Dallas Field of Tulips in Vinca Minor |
Vinca is a ground cover that thrives in the shade blooming in mid-March to early April in Texas. It does best if fertilized. Seen here with contrasting red and white tulips. |
| Mid-March in Dallas you will find this exquisite field of tulips planted in a woodland setting in blooming ground cover of Vinca Major or periwinkle!
Vinca Major is a shade loving ground cover which requires less water than grass. It is a good choice for heavily shaded woodland settings. It would be impossible to for grass to grow in this dense shade, even St. Augustine. Vinca Major also goes well with caladium bulbs to replace the tulips, wood ferns and daffodils. Read more about wood ferns here. Neil Sperry on Tulips in Texas: Q. Can I dig and save my tulip bulbs? Do I need to refrigerate them again this fall? A. Tulips should be used as annual flowers in Texas. Even large public gardens that plant tens of thousands of them each fall pull and compost them as soon as they’re finished flowering. The bulbs don’t handle Texas temperatures well at all. |
Red Tulips contrast with the indgo blue of Vinca Major. Vinca is a ground cover that thrives in the shade blooming in mid-March to early April in Texas. It does best if fertilized. Seen here with contrasting red and white tulips. |
Neil Sperry says tulips should be used as annuals in Texas. |
Landscaping with Roses Double Knockout planted in a bed of Vinca Major. The scarlet of the Knockout rose combines beautifully with the flowers of Vinca Major. |
 Hardy Morning Glory a perennial ground cover. I would recommend you investigate this perennial ground cover as well if you want a blooming ground cover. It thrives in Texas and even full sun. Vincas do better in shade. |
 Variegated Vinca Major needs more light than green Vinca Major. It lightens up a dark corner and has the same coloration a variegated pittosporum. |
| This is a green and creamy-white variegated Vinca Major that lightens up dark shaded spaces. It produces blue flowers in spring. Variegated Vinca Major requires more sunlight than the solid green selection. Groom established plantings by cutting back plants periodically to keep the plantings tidy and rejuvenated. Also fertilize plants in late winter through early spring. |
 Variegated Vinca Major needs more light than green Vinca Major. It lightens up a dark corner and has the same coloration a variegated pittosporum. |
This lawn is more ground cover than grass and creates a lovely rolling appeal.
This lawn is more ground cover than grass and creates a lovely rolling appeal.
Beautiful variegated pittosporum in pots. Also known as ‘mock orange’.
Variegated Vinca goes well with Variegated Pittosporum with a buffer to break the two. 
Variegate Dwarf Pittosporum
