Creeping myrtle is a fast-spreading, 4- to 8-inch-tall, evergreen groundcover with shiny green leaves borne in pairs on long, arching stems. Star-like, 1-inch-wide blue flowers bloom for one month in spring. Cultivars include ‘Bowles,’ which blooms sporadically throughout the growing season, and variegated vinca, with creamy white-and-green leaves.
Noteworthy CharacteristicsRoots where stems touch the ground.
CareProvide dry to moist soil in full sun or deep shade. Old growth may be cut back to about 4 inches high in early spring to stimulate new growth. New roots form where stems touch the ground.
PropagationDivide in early spring or mid- or late autumn.
ProblemsLeafhoppers, scale insects, aphids, leaf spot, and dieback.
- Genus : Vinca
- Zones : 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
- Plant Height : 6 to 12 inches
- Moisture : Dry to Medium
- Bloom Time : Early Spring, Late Spring, Spring
- Growth Rate : Fast
- Light : Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Uses : Ground Covers
- Maintenance : Low
- Plant Type : Perennials
- Characteristics : Showy Foliage
