Vinca minor 'Darts Blue' is a vigorous evergreen groundcover prized for its trailing habit and periwinkle blue flowers that bloom from early spring through summer. Its dense mat of glossy dark green foliage suppresses weeds effectively and thrives in shady hard to plant areas - even beneath trees and along slopes.
Height & Spread: 4 - 6 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Spring to summer
Light Requirements: Part shade to full shade
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained soil; tolerant of a variety of conditions
Watering Needs: Low once established
Deer Resistance: Unpalatable to deer and rabbits
Native Status
Vinca minor is native to central and southern Europe. It is naturalized in parts of North America but is not native. 'Darts Blue' is a cultivated variety known for its especially vivid flower color and fast spreading nature.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Offers early nectar to butterflies such as Spring Azure and Common Buckeye in shady woodland edges and borders.
Bees
- Visited by ground nesting native bees and bumblebees during early bloom periods.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Plant 12 - 18 in apart for quick mat formation and complete ground coverage.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for shady slopes, beneath shrubs, or as a living mulch under deciduous trees. Excellent alternative to mulch in erosion prone sites.
Companion Plants
- Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver' - Silvery foliage and soft pink flowers provide ground level contrast and prevent gaps in the coverage.
- Ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora) - Coppery fronds add vertical lift and seasonal color to woodland gardens.
- Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' - Graceful variegated sedge brightens the shade and interweaves naturally among the vines.
- Heuchera 'Palace Purple' - Deep burgundy leaves offer rich contrast to the cool blue blooms and glossy foliage of vinca.
- Hosta 'Halcyon' - Compact hosta with blue green foliage provides texture contrast and echoes flower tones.