Plant · GBIF taxon 3169707
lesser periwinkle
Vinca minorAlso known as Small Periwinkle, Common Periwinkle, Creeping Myrtle, Myrtle
Lesser periwinkle forms dense, low-growing mats of glossy evergreen foliage that blanket forest floors and shaded garden beds. Solitary five-petaled flowers in shades of violet-blue bloom heavily in spring, popping up intermittently throughout the summer. Rooting at stem nodes as it creeps along the soil, this resilient vine forms deep ground cover that outcompetes native understory flora across many temperate regions.
EvergreenFloweringGround Cover
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
ThreatsMechanical clearing, shaded canopy closure, herbicides
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, forest edges, shaded gardens, riverbanks
Life spanPerennial (10+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderGentianales
- FamilyApocynaceae
- GenusVinca
- SpeciesVinca minor
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- All parts contain toxic alkaloids that cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested; keep away from pets.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains vinca alkaloids such as vincamine, which cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and low blood pressure if ingested.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by glossy, opposite dark green leaves on trailing vines with five-petaled blue-purple blooms.
- What to do
- Wear garden gloves when clearing or pruning stems, and prevent pets and livestock from chewing foliage.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for glossy evergreen leaves arranged in opposite pairs along trailing woody stems.
- Garden Control: Install deep soil borders to prevent creeping runners from spreading into natural areas.
- Observation: Watch for peak pinwheel-shaped blooms during cool early spring weather.
Competitor (c) Marianna Boi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Marianna Boi · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Mentxuwiki, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Relative (c) Louis Aureglia, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Louis Aureglia · cc-by
Family Relative Alvesgaspar / CC BY 2.5 · cc-by
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