Common Periwinkle Vinca minor
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- VIN-kah MY-nor
- Description
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Periwinkle is an herbaceous perennial, broadleaf evergreen ground cover in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). It is native to Europe and the Caucasus and has a creeping, spreading habit.
It tolerates high heat and nearly full shade but prefers full sun, partial shade, or dappled sunlight and moist soil with good drainage. It grows 3 to 6 inches high and 3 to 18 inches wide which makes it seem like a relatively small plant, but its rapid growth rate and ability to root at the nodes enables periwinkle to form a dense mat over a wide area and become weedy and high maintenance in a short order.
Identify periwinkle by its small, blue-lavender flowers that appear against the backdrop of dark green leathery foliage in spring and early summer and intermittently throughout the year. There are cultivars with variegated or gold leaves. The flowers attract bumblebees.
Its aggressive nature has won periwinkle a spot on many states' most unwanted lists. Please consider native alternatives listed in the left-hand column.
The two species of periwinkle in cultivation differ as follows:
- Vinca major has leaves that are broadest below the middle, and the leaf bases are cordate (heart-shaped) to nearly rounded. The leaves are thin in texture (relative to the other species) and ciliate on their margins. The flowers are larger than other other species.
- Vinca minor has leaves that are broadest near the middle and the leaf bases are rounded to cuneate (wedge-shaped). The leaves are thick in texture (relative to the other species) and not ciliate on their margins. The flowers are smaller than other other species.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Vine stem canker (blight) can damage or kill large patches and periwinkle can spread aggressively into adjacent lawns, gardens and natural areas. It is classified as an invasive species by the NC Invasive Plant Council.
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
- Weed
- 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:
- Weedy
