Vinca major Wojo's Gem

Vinca major 'Wojo's Gem' ('Wojo's Jem') is a large and particularly ornamental periwinkle, less invasive than the wild species. It develops long flexible stems covered with evergreen leaves light yellow to white-cream, marginated with dark green, which are quite unusual and particularly bright. It blooms in spring, producing the beloved periwinkle stars in blue... that we all love. Its somewhat bushy growth will enthusiastically cascade from hanging baskets, or creep between the roots of trees, in poor soils, even in the sun.

The greater periwinkle (Vinca major) is a creeping perennial with woody stems from the Apocynaceae family, native to central and southern Europe. It populates woods, hedges, rocks, or even dry and sunny meadows, and can sometimes be invasive. It is an extremely robust and truly undemanding plant, with foliage that remains evergreen in winter.

'Wojo's Gem' stands out with its bright and original variegated foliage. This plant develops from a woody climbing stem base, producing initially erect and then trailing stems, forming a fairly dense creeping tuft 40 cm (16in) in height and 80 cm (32in) or more in spread. In contact with the ground, the stems produce vigorous roots that allow this plant to continue its lateral growth. The stems bear opposite, ovate leaves, mostly cream-yellow in the centre, irregularly margined with green. This variety blooms in April-May, producing solitary terminal flowers, with a characteristic violet-blue colour, composed of five square, asymmetrical petals.

Periwinkles are useful groundcovers, sometimes invasive. They will spread even in shaded areas, although they may be slightly less floriferous. They eventually form thick intermingled mats, effectively covering the ground under trees or bushes. They thrive very well in not too arid rockeries or along pathways. 'Wojo's Gem' combines usefulness with beauty by adding a touch of elegance to the less favorable areas of the garden. It also naturalises quite easily in partial shade, alongside bear's breeches, perennial bloody cranesbill, Comfrey Hidcote Blue, Jerusalem sage Samia  or Kenilworth ivy (Cymbalaria muralis), in a somewhat wild understory. The 'Gloire de Marengo' ivy, with its fabulous grey-green leaves variegated with cream, will form a beautiful combination with Vinca major 'Wojo's Gem' in regions where winters are not too harsh.