| common periwinkle | USDA PLANTS Symbol: VIMI2 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Vines Shrub or Subshrub |
| Vinca minor L. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Gentianales: Apocynaceae |
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| Synonym(s): lesser periwinkle, myrtle | |
| Native Range: Europe, W. Asia (REHD); | |
Common periwinkle, a common invader throughout most of the United States, is an evergreen to semi-evergreen, trailing vine that reaches up to 6.6 ft. (2 m) in length. Vines can reach a height of 6 in. (15.2 cm). The stems are slender, somewhat woody, and green in color. The opposite, glossy leaves are approximately 1 in. (2.5 cm) long and narrowly elliptical in shape. Some varieties have variegated leaf colors. Flowers are violet to blue (possibly white) in color, 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide, 5-petaled and develop in the spring. Common periwinkle invades open to shady forests often around former plantings at old homesites. It forms dense and extensive mats along forest floors that exclude native vegetation. It is native to Europe and was first introduced into North America in the 1700s as an ornamental. It is still commonly sold as an ornamental ground cover. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Flower(s); habitat Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); common periwinkle macro Deena Chadi, University of New Haven, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Calyx Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Common compared to Bigleaf leaves May James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Jil Swearingen, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 3: 20. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org Alternative content
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 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. Alternative content
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