Landscape Alternatives
Similar to Vinca major L.
These native plants are suitable substitutes for periwinkle in the landscape.
Wild Blue Phlox and Creeping Phlox (Phlox divaricata and Phlox stolonifera) are two semi-evergreen perennials for use as groundcovers. Wild blue phlox has pale blue, fragrant flowers in spring and occurs statewide. Creeping phlox has bluish-purple flowers in spring and does best in the more acidic mountains of East Tennessee. Attract bees and butterflies. There are cultivars.
Sedges: Several grass-like sedges make excellent groundcovers for shade with foliage that lasts all year. Blue wood sedge (Carex flaccosperma) has silvery blue foliage and can take wetter sites. Seersucker sedge (Carex plantaginea) has puckered light green leaves. Silver sedge (Carex platyphylla) has slightly puckered, light blue-green foliage.
Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) is a small creeping vine with tiny, glossy, deep green leaves, pairs of white fuzzy flowers in early June, and bright red berries. It needs acid soil and shade. Attracts birds.
Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea [ Senecio aureus ]) has dark, evergreen foliage that colonizes as a groundcover and yellow flowers in early spring. Attracts bees and butterflies.
Marginal Woodfern (Dryopteris marginalis) is an evergreen fern that likes shade and moist soil.