Ralph Shugert Periwinkle

Ralph Shugert Periwinkle (Vinca minor 'Ralph Shugert')

Ralph Shugert Periwinkle is a low, trailing evergreen groundcover with glossy leaves edged in creamy white and periwinkle blue flowers in spring with occasional summer bloom. Its dense, carpeting habit brightens shade and tucks neatly along paths, beds, and under shrubs.

Distinctive Features

Showy variegated foliage provides year-round contrast, while abundant blue blooms add seasonal color; stems root at the nodes to form a tidy, weed-suppressing mat.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Partial shade to shade; tolerates morning sun with moisture.
• Soil: Well drained, average to humus-rich soil.
• Water: Moderate; keep evenly moist during establishment, then water during extended dry spells.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9.
• Mature Size: About 0.3 to 0.5 ft tall and 1 to 2 ft spread per plant, wider over time.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Variegated leaves and blue flowers lift dim corners and entries.
• Groundcover: Forms a dense, evergreen carpet that suppresses weeds.
• Edging: Neat trailing habit defines paths and bed fronts.
• Understory Planting: Fills space beneath shrubs and open canopies.
• Containers: Spills gently over rims in shaded planters.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water regularly the first season; provide deep, occasional soaks in drought.
• Pruning: Shear or pinch after bloom to maintain edges and encourage fullness.
• Fertilizing: Top-dress with compost in spring; additional fertilizer rarely needed.
• Mulching: Apply a thin mulch to conserve moisture, keeping mulch off stems.
• Notes: Generally deer resistant; monitor spread at bed edges in ideal conditions.

Why Choose Ralph Shugert Periwinkle?

• Four-Season Appeal: Evergreen variegation with spring flowers.
• Shade Solution: Thrives where turf and many perennials struggle.
• Low Upkeep: Minimal grooming once established.
• Weed Suppression: Dense mat helps block light to competing seedlings.
• Design Versatility: Useful as groundcover, edging, or container spiller.

Plant in partial shade with well drained soil, keep evenly moist through establishment, and lightly shear after flowering to maintain a tight, luminous carpet.