Plant · GBIF taxon 3169707
Lesser Periwinkle
Vinca minorAlso known as Small Periwinkle, Common Periwinkle, Creeping Myrtle, Myrtle
Lesser periwinkle carpets temperate forest floors and garden borders with a dense mat of glossy, dark green evergreen foliage. In early spring, solitary pinwheel-shaped violet-blue blossoms emerge from the leaf axils, continuing to bloom sporadically throughout the summer. Native to southern and central Europe, its trailing vines root at the nodes to form expansive clonal colonies that frequently displace native understory vegetation.
EvergreenGroundcoverFlowering
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
Not available
ThreatsHabitat conversion in native range, widely naturalized elsewhere
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, shaded slopes, garden borders
Life spanPerennial (indefinite vegetative spread)
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
- Contains toxic alkaloids; do not ingest and keep away from livestock and domestic pets.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains indole alkaloids like vincamine that cause low blood pressure, severe gastrointestinal upset, and systemic toxicity if ingested.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by smooth opposite leaves on creeping stems with violet-blue five-petaled blooms.
- What to do
- Wear garden gloves when pruning large patches and keep leaves away from cats, dogs, and livestock.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for opposite, glossy evergreen leaves with delicate five-lobed violet-blue flowers.
- Garden Control: Prune trailing stems along borders to prevent unchecked spread into surrounding woodland.
- Pet Safety: Ensure grazing pets do not chew the leaves, as the plant contains gastrointestinal toxins.
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
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