Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Burgundy Periwinkle (Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea')cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Burgundy Periwinkle, Purple Periwinkle, Lesser Periwinkle.

More about burgundy periwinkle

About Burgundy Periwinkle

Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea' · also called Burgundy Periwinkle, Purple Periwinkle · flowering

A low-growing, mat-forming evergreen groundcover prized for its deep burgundy-purple blooms in spring and glossy dark-green foliage. Highly shade-tolerant and drought-hardy once established, it suppresses weeds effectively beneath trees and on slopes. Vigorous spreader suited to USDA zones 4–9.

Cold limit: USDA 4-9 · RHS H7 (-20°C to 30°C)

Watch for — Deer and rabbit browsing: Deer will browse young growth, especially in winter when other food is scarce. Apply deer-repellent sprays seasonally or use physical barriers in high-pressure areas. Established dense mats are somewhat less palatable.

What burgundy periwinkle's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — burgundy periwinkle is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 4-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H7 means: Hardy in the severest European continental winters. On the US scale that maps to USDA 4-9 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Burgundy Periwinkle is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for burgundy periwinkle as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can burgundy periwinkle go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 4-9 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when burgundy periwinkle can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H7 figure above.

Burgundy Periwinkle hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is burgundy periwinkle cold hardy?

Yes — burgundy periwinkle is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 4-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Burgundy Periwinkle is hardy across USDA 4-9; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature burgundy periwinkle can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Burgundy Periwinkle is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is burgundy periwinkle?

Burgundy Periwinkle is rated USDA 4-9 and RHS H7 — Hardy in the severest European continental winters.

Can burgundy periwinkle survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 4-9 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to burgundy periwinkle below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.