| Hi ivamae, I think the plant you're remembering from your childhood is one called Vinca minor, which is also sometimes called periwinkle, creeping myrtle, or just "vinca". So yes, periwinkle is probably the same plant as the one you remember. Do you know what your hardiness zone is there in southwestern Ontario? If you don't know what your hardiness zone is, you can find out by going to the website link at the end of my message and checking the Canadian Hardiness Zone map. You may be in an extra-cold zone like Zone 3 or even Zone 2 if you live north of Lake Huron. But if you're east of Lake Huron down near Toronto, you may be in warmer Zone 4 or even Zone 5. Periwinkle will survive the winter in hardiness zones as low as 4. It will spread a lot if you live in zone 4 or Zone 5. We're in Zone 6 and have a patch of periwinkle planted by the previous owner of our house that is now about 25 feet wide and 12 feet long. Periwinkle won't climb up your trees like ivy, but some people dislike periwinkle because it just kind of takes over any nearby ground. The flowers are very pretty though, and it stays evergreen and survives in many "problem areas" like dry shade. Periwinkle is also deer-resistant. If you live in a colder hardiness zone, like Zone 3 or even Zone 2, there are other low-maintenance plants you could grow under your tree that will survive the Ontario winter more successfully. -topie | 
