• Vinca grows in shady areas with poor soil.vinca spring flowering carpet image by starush from Fotolia.com
  
  

Expert Opinion

• Vinca minor, also known as periwinkle or myrtle, is one of the best all-around ground covers, according to Barbara Damrosch, landscape designer and author of "The Garden Primer." It produces lush, glossy leaves and small, star-shaped flowers in early summer.
  
  

Invasive Plant

• Vinca spreads through vines that root wherever they touch the soil. It tends to crowd out other plants and may become invasive, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
  
  

Bottom Line

• Grow vinca by itself under trees or in a shaded area. The plant thrives in moist, rich soil but grows in dry, poor soils as well. Don't allow it to escape into surrounding woodland areas.