You may want to look at Japanese Ardisia
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/60185/index.html.
"Excellent groundcover for shady areas; leaves yellow and subject to leaf
spot in full sun. Spreads by underground runners, so the use of a thick
layer of mulch aids in establishment. Displays red berries in the winter.
Several variegated selections available".

It is low growing, evergreen, has no problems once established. Like most
ground covers it will take a couple years to entirely fill in. It does need
a treatment of green sand to keep it really green and shiny. Has a small
white flower in the fall followed by a red berry. Needs water only in the
most severe drought periods. Bought mine at the HD.


"dc" wrote in message
. ..
Red wrote:
Are you talking about Vinca Minor , Periwinkle, Creeping Myrtle,
Flower-of-Death (Vinca minor)
See this link http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/174/index.html

Should be easy to find in any Home Depot. If you are in San Antonio come
by and I will give you enough to get you started. Grows great in the
shade, deer don't touch it, drought tolerant, spreads easily, only down
side is that there is a little worm that comes around about late July and
defoliates it, that can be controlled with BT but you have to be alert
that it will happen or one morning you will wake up to just vines.
Fortunately it is not fatal as the vine survives and just sets another
set of leaves. I have never had it freeze back here in San Antonio.
There is a varigated form which makes a nice mix with the standard green.

Thanks for the offer and the info. I'm in Austin, and I've tried 3
different Home Depots without any luck - I only asked at one, but guy
didn't know what a Periwinkle was. A small private nursery on north Lamar
in Austin said they carry Periwinkle, but get irregular shipments from
their supplier. I'm a little far from San Antonio, but thanks for the
offer anyway.




"dc" wrote in message
news
I want to plant Periwinkle under a tree in my yard. Everything I read
about Periwinkle makes it sound like an ideal ground cover for under
trees: it likes shade and prefers prefers well-watered soil (my tree is
young, and I water it frequently). My problem is, I can't find
Periwinkle for sale around Austin. Does anyone know where to get it?