{"product_id":"vinca-minor-illumination","title":"Vinca minor 'Illumination' – golden foliage and blue flowers","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinca minor 'Illumination'\u003c\/strong\u003e is an ornamental cultivar of periwinkle, valued for its bright foliage, variegated in shades of \u003cstrong\u003egolden yellow and green\u003c\/strong\u003e, as well as for its delicate blue-violet flowers, which appear mainly in spring. The plant has a trailing growth habit and gradually forms dense carpets, making it highly suitable for ground cover in partially shaded or shaded areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is commonly known as \u003cstrong\u003ePeriwinkle\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eLesser Periwinkle\u003c\/strong\u003e. The 'Illumination' cultivar stands out for its golden-yellow leaf centers surrounded by green margins, making it decorative even outside the flowering period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🌿 Botanical characteristics\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eVinca minor\u003c\/em\u003e 'Illumination'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names:\u003c\/strong\u003e Periwinkle, Lesser Periwinkle\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Apocynaceae\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant type:\u003c\/strong\u003e trailing perennial, ground cover\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmall, oval, glossy leaves\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGolden-yellow to creamy-yellow centers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClearly defined green margins\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlue-violet flowers with five petals\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFlowering mainly in spring\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMay produce occasional flowers later as well, under favorable conditions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStems spread along the ground and can root at the nodes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuitable for borders, rock gardens, slopes, and planting beneath trees or shrubs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e☀️ Growing conditions and care\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e prefers partial shade and bright shade. It can also tolerate gentle sunlight if the soil does not dry out excessively.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, loose, and well-drained.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e moderate; once established, it tolerates short periods of drought, but grows better in moderately moist soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFertilization:\u003c\/strong\u003e light fertilization in spring to support growth and foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e can be cut back after flowering or whenever control of its spread is desired.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUse:\u003c\/strong\u003e excellent as ground cover in areas where grass or other plants grow with difficulty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e❄️ Cold hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell-established plants in the garden generally withstand temperatures down to approximately \u003cstrong\u003e-20°C\u003c\/strong\u003e. Young plants and those grown in containers are more sensitive and should be protected during periods of severe frost.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e✨ What makes it special\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ebright, golden-yellow foliage with green margins;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003edecorative for a long period of the year;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eblue-violet flowers that contrast spectacularly with the foliage;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eexcellent ground-cover plant;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eadapts well to partial shade and bright shade;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003esuitable for planting beneath trees and shrubs;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ecan gradually form dense, decorative carpets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e📌 Note: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe intensity of the golden-yellow shade and the proportion of yellow and green areas may vary depending on light, season, and the plant's stage of development. The plant is sold without flowers. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leaves may have small spots, tears, dry edges, or other cosmetic imperfections that occur during growth, handling, transport, or acclimatization. These features do not normally affect the plant's viability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secret Garden Outdoor","offers":[{"title":"15 cm pot","offer_id":57198873477446,"sku":null,"price":8.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0558\/5551\/3798\/files\/c90fb9a9-cb9d-4770-a6fd-da700ed915d3.png?v=1787692170","url":"https:\/\/secretgarden.ro\/en-at\/products\/vinca-minor-illumination","provider":"Secret Garden Plant Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}