Mid-Summer Titan Blue Lavender Halo Vinca Annual Mass Planting Update - August 2026

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Back in June, I planted 36 tiny plugs of Titan Blue Lavender Halo Vinca in a mass planting in the (mostly) front of the Island Bed down by the sidewalk.  I grew Annual Vinca in the front porch bed last year and in addition to planting more there this year, I also decided to give it a try down in the Island Bed.  

The 36 plugs were tiny when they went in.  And, maybe I spaced them too far part.  But, after all of June.  And all of July, they're finally starting to put on some size and fill-out the space that I gave them.  Not all of them survived, but I'd say that the great majority of them have made it to August.  I'm not sure, but I think a few of them might have been over-watered (vs struggle from drought).  

Below is a as-current photo of the Titan Halo Vinca.  I recently watered them, so they're a little 'tipped over' from the weight of the water.  But, this gives us a sense for spacing.  And color.


Titan Vinca, Coleus and a Korean Maple tree in a front yard

Turns out, 36 isn't quite enough I think.  (Note to future self:  36 wasn't enough in this space.  Or, at least...it wasn't enough during June and July.)  Time will tell if I ultimately got the spacing right as they continue to branch-out and grow.  But, compare the spacing with the 36 above with what I was seeing last year with fewer (in the front porch bed).  Almost exactly a year ago. Much tighter, right?  No spaces.  No mulch peeking out between them.  

The color, on the other hand, is great.  I really like these.  Pale purple.  Downers Grove North colors.  Can't beat that, right?   Just need to buy 25% to 30% more, I think.  Instead of 36 in this space, maybe try 44 or 45.    Wannemaker's sells flats of 40 for $23.  I bought 120 plugs, 3 flats.  If I go up from 76 to 95 in the front porch bed (more on that in a separate post) and from 36 to 45 here, that gets me to an even 140.  But, I also like them IB2DWs.  So, call it 160.  

The coleus in this bed have (also) been a disappointment.  But, that's for a separate post so I can learn from the experience.  

Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA

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