Vinca minor f. alba 'Gertrude Jekyll'

A classic white counterpart to the traditional blue periwinkle, this elegant evergreen ground cover is named after the celebrated garden designer who favoured its clean, understated beauty.

A more compact and refined choice than the rampant species, it forms a neat, prostrate mat of small, lance-shaped, dark green foliage that remains glossy and fresh through the harshest winters. From mid-spring onwards, the carpet is studded with a profusion of pure white, star-like flowers that shine out from shady corners like tiny beacons.

It is less invasive than the larger-leaved varieties, making it an excellent mannerly choice for underplanting roses, lining a woodland path, or filling gaps in a rockery. It is exceptionally hardy and adaptable, thriving in everything from sun to deep shade, though it blooms most generously when given a little light.

Barnsdale tip: While it is low maintenance, this plant looks its absolute best if you give it a "short back and sides" in early spring. Using shears, trim the previous year's growth back hard just as the weather warms up; this encourages a dense flush of fresh, emerald-green leaves and ensures the white flowers aren't hidden by old, stringy stems.

April-June flowering and intermittently until the autumn. Will grow in sun or shade in most garden soils. Height & spread: 15cm x 150cm (6" x 5').