The foliage is dark green and leathery, and the flowers and foliageresemble impatiens.
But rather than being a shade lover, annual vinca is a perfect choice for sunny locations.
The flowers attract butterflies.
The Spruce / Lacey Johnson
It will tolerate part shade but may become leggy in too much shade.
If your soil is heavy.
Add compost before planting.
The Spruce / Lacey Johnson
Alternatively, plant vincas in raised beds orcontainersusing a porous, well-draining potting mix.
Water
Watering too frequently is a common mistake with annual vinca.
Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
The Spruce / Lacey Johnson
This is a plant that thrives in dry soil.
Temperature and Humidity
Dont rush to put out vinca plants in the spring.
Annual vinca prospers in hot and humid weather.
The Spruce / Lacey Johnson
The plant is not frost-tolerant and declines as the weather cools in the fall.
Fertilizer
Apply compost to the bed or use a slow-release fertilizer at planting time.
Container-grown plants need more frequent feedings, as nutrients leach from the soil from more frequent watering.
Each series comes in a range of colors.
Popular series include:
Pruning
Annual vinca is self-cleaning so no deadheading is necessary.
If that’s not the case,propagate annual vinca from stem cuttingsin the early fall.
Potting and Repotting
Use a pot with large drainage holes and fill it with well-draining potting soil.
Vinca varieties range in height and spread so double-check to choose a container that is large enough.
Keep in mind that potted plants need more frequent watering than plants in garden soil.
Especially hanging baskets are notorious for drying out fast.
Repotting during the plants single growing season isnt necessary.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
This plant has few serious disease or insect problems.
What Do Annual Vinca Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Annual vinca bears single blooms with five petals that frequently touch or overlap.
There are pink, purple, red, white, magenta, and bi-colored varieties.
Many varieties feature a contrasting eye.
The flowers have a sweet smell.
It won’t bloom if its roots are waterlogged.
This problem is easily fixed by thinning out the plants as soon as the problem is noticed.
Trim away all affected leaves with clean, sharp garden shears.
Stick your finger into the soil.
If it feels wet, there is too much moisture.
Let the plant dry out and cut down on the watering.
Annual vinca seedlings will reach full size by mid-summer.
Plants that pair well with annual vinca are those that bring out the contrasting eye of the vinca flower.
Take advantage of the fast growth habit of annual vinca.
Another difference is the height.
Perennial vinca is a groundcover growing only 3 to 6 inches tall.
Yes, you canplant SunPatiensinstead of vinca.
SunPatiens is an impatiens hybrid with similar blooms to vinca but without the worries.
North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
