Common Periwinkle Vinca minor
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- VIN-kah MY-nor
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
-
Periwinkle is an herbaceous perennial evergreen ground cover in the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family. Originally from Europe, its dainty blue-lavender flowers appear against the backdrop of luxurious dark green leathery foliage in spring and early summer and intermittently throughout the year.
The plant tolerates high heat and close to full shade, but prefers full or partial sun, although its leaves can tend to yellow in full sun. Plant in moist, organic soils. When using as a groundcover, plant 8 inches apart for quick cover of smaller areas and 12 to 18 inches apart for large areas.
While often used as a ground cover for large natural areas and around trees it grows quickly and aggressively rooting at the nodes and can become weedy.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is considered invasive in several states around North Carolina and California. Vine stem canker (blight) can damage or kill large patches and it can spread aggressively into adjacent lawns or garden areas. Consider native alternatives listed in the left-hand column.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- '24 Carat'
Gold color of young leaves - 'Bowles'
- 'Honeydew'
Small, glossy, oval-to-elliptic, chartreuse leaves; tubular, phlox-like, lavender-blue flowers. Dense foliage. - 'Variegata'
Dark green leaves, irregular creamy white margins, mat forming, low growing violet blue flowers in spring, rebloom.
- '24 Carat'
- '24 Carat', 'Bowles', 'Honeydew', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- '24 Carat'
Gold color of young leaves - 'Bowles'
- 'Honeydew'
Small, glossy, oval-to-elliptic, chartreuse leaves; tubular, phlox-like, lavender-blue flowers. Dense foliage. - 'Variegata'
Dark green leaves, irregular creamy white margins, mat forming, low growing violet blue flowers in spring, rebloom.
- '24 Carat'
- '24 Carat', 'Bowles', 'Honeydew', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Vinca
- Species:
- minor
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- groundcover
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Caucasus
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bumblebees.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are axillary, solitary, lilac-blue; corolla rotate, 5-lobed, actinomorphic, on more upright stems.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, simple, evergreen, elliptic, to 1 inch long, entire, medium green.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are thin and wiry erect to about 6", then arching over to ground and trailing.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Heavy Shade
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
