Planting Information for a Cora Cascade Periwinkle

"Cora Cascade"

• Periwinkles such as "Cora Cascade" were developed from a tropical plant that grows as a semi-woody, evergreen perennial and is native to Madagascar. When grown outdoors year-round, "Cora Cascade" becomes 6 to 8 inches tall and covers an area up to 3 feet across when allowed to trail on the ground. The plant has attractive, bushy green foliage and covers itself in large, 2-inch wide flowers from June until fall. Flowers can be apricot, burgundy, cherry-pink, white or pinkish-white with a red center, depending on the cultivar.

Planting

• Cora Cascade is best planted in early spring, to give it a full season to mature and bloom. You can start with young seedling plants from a nursery or garden center, or you could start plants from seeds indoors four to six weeks before spring warmth arrives. Sow one or two seeds in a peat pot or other small container and keep new seedlings moist and in bright indirect light. When daytime and nighttime temperature remains above 55 to 60 degrees, move plants outdoors to a lightly shaded, sheltered location for about a week, to allow them to harden off before planting. Plant each young seedling in a hole twice as large as its root area, spacing plants 24 to 36 inches apart and back-filling each hole with compost-amended soil. When planted, the seedling should be at the same depth as in its original pot, so adjust the depth of the planting hole to ensure this.

Light and Soil

• "Cora Cascade" periwinkle tolerates heat quite well and thrives in full sun. It can also grow in a spot that gets light shade for a few hours each day, but isn't a good choice for a full shaded spot because it needs strong light for good flower production. It does well in any type of garden soil that's well-drained, but prefers a sandy loam. If your soil contains clay and tends to stay wet for long periods, adding some fine sand at planting can improve its drainage and help ensure healthy plants.

Other Care

• Although a "Cora Cascade" plant grows freely without any trimming, pinching back growing shoots early in the season can encourage branching and more flower buds. The plant needs no fertilizing and regular feeding may cause overgrowth of foliage at the expense of blossoms. It has no significant insect pests, but can be prone to fungal disorders, including leaf spot and stem rot. These problems are best prevented by siting the plant in an area with good air circulation, clearing debris from under the plants regularly and watering with a soaker hose that helps keep foliage dry.