Plant Encyclopedia: Annual Vinca

March 6, 2018 by Kasi Smith Leave a Comment

Plant Care Basics

Grow Zone Recommendation: Annual vinca is grown in USDA growing zones 2 to 11.

Sunlight Needs: This summertime stunner is best suited for growing in sunny locations where it gets good sunlight for the better part of the day.

Watering Needs: Keep soil somewhat moist after transplanting and during germination, until plants are established. At that point, annual vinca is drought tolerant, only needing water when the soil gets very dry.

Average Size: Size depends on conditions and variety, but on average, annual vinca grows from 6 inches to 3 feet in height, and from 8 to 36 inches in width.

Foliage Color: Annual vinca’s foliage is a deep, glossy emerald green, and it blooms with pin, red, purple, or white flowers in summer and fall.

Must Know Plant Care Tips: Annual vinca can be trailing or trained upright. Trailing looks great in containers or hanging baskets. In gardens, upright trained vincas can make a big color impact without much maintenance. Annual vinca thrives in summer’s heat. With good air circulation, some shade is okay. Without good air movement, fungus may develop.

Plant Problem Solver: As mentioned, annual vinca is great for containers and can spill over the side for a lovely look. The sap from vinca is actually poisonous, so keep the plants away from pets and small children. However, vinca also produces cancer-killing compounds. They can be started from seed with good heat, and also propagated from cuttings with high humidity and heat from the bottom.

Pretty Pairings: Complementary companions for annual vinca include angelonia, verbena, and geraniums.

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