Days to Maturity: 63 to 70
Typically grown as annuals, the varieties in the Vitesse™ Patriot Mix Vinca are tender perennials (Zones 10 to 11), offering early summer through fall interest, generally blooming until first frost. Putting on a continuous, eye-catching display, Vitesse™ Patriot Mix Vinca produces an abundance of small red, white, and blue blooms that hold up to the sun. Borne singly or in pairs on short stalks, the phlox-like flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.
Vitesse™ Patriot Mix Vinca contains Catharanthus roseus cultivars, commonly called periwinkle. They have a well-branched, upright, mounded habit of glossy, dark green foliage often used as groundcover in beds and borders.
A favorite of southern gardeners, vinca prefers full sun to dappled shade and moist, well-drained soil but tolerates a wide range of soils, including dry soils, and conditions, including heat and humidity. But it doesn't tolerate overwatering. It is also deer, rabbit, pest, and disease resistant.
Direct sow vinca seed after the last frost in spring, as soon as the soil is warm, or start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost date and transplant after all threat of frost has passed and temperatures are consistently above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds germinate best with soil temperatures over 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.
