The vulgar periwinkle ( Vinca minor ) is native to Europe and Western Asia . It forms creeping mats of evergreen leaf with violet - blue blooms in shaded woods , along roadways and in abandoned site . So long as the soil drain well and has a modicum of fertility , periwinkle stem can find leverage and avoid disease .

Type

The West Virginia University Extension help report the roots of coarse Vinca rosea as unchewable , spreading and shallow . These roots prefer a soil pH near neutral ( 6.0 to 7.0 ) and productive constituent matter . Fibrous solution system have no taproot , rather branching equally in all direction . Shallow source systems can not reach deep sources of water or nutrients , and so depend on steady nutrient inputs from crumble affair and rainfall .

Function

unchewable solution system anchor the plant by cohere to the surface in several place . The abundance of branches provides more surface area for water and nutrient preoccupation . Shallow roots seldom baby-sit in moist soil for long , quash the field where soil - borne fungal disease breed . alternatively , the roots stretch out horizontally in search of more deposits of organic matter , and to increase the Earth’s surface field to grab rainfall before it seep down .

Benefits

The fibrous flatness of periwinkle ascendent help prevent wearing away and keep out weeds . This makes them well - suit to steeper grades and other areas where lawn ca n’t compete with weeds . They also work well around trees , since tree roots look for water and nutrient deep than periwinkle ’s shallow tooth root , and periwinkles do n’t mind the shade from the tree diagram .

Diseases

The most common misapprehension with Catharanthus roseus is watering too often , or planting them in soils that do n’t run out well enough between watering . If the roots sit in wet too long , they become infected with a fungous root bunkum called Phytophthora nicotianae . The disease can infect the rootage , rootage collar or leaf – and chop-chop spread to the sleep of the industrial plant . The leaves begin to droop and correct as the transmission diffuse through the roots , destruct the plant ’s mean value of nutrient assimilation .

Considerations

Wait until the first 2 to 3 inches of soil are ironic before watering . Plant in an area with fantabulous drainage to forestall root rot in case of frequent rainfall . advance planter are marvelous for periwinkles , as are slopes and side . winkle can spread aggressively to places with fertile soils , out - competing lawns or ornamental if they ’re not maintain in bank check . In some areas of the United States , Madagascar periwinkle are considered an invasive sens when they escape to the wilderness .

References

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