Periwinkle

Description

Periwinkle (Vinca minor and Vinca major) is an invasive evergreen groundcover native to Eurasia, the Mediterranean region, and northern Africa that was introduced to North America in the 1700s as an ornamental plant. Still commonly planted in gardens, periwinkle can escape into natural areas where its extensive network of runners allows it to spread rapidly and form dense mats. These mats can crowd out native vegetation, reduce tree seedling survival, and dominate the understory of forests and other shaded habitats.

  • Scientific name: Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle), Vinca major (greater periwinkle)

  • French name: petite pervenche and grand pervenche, respectively

  • Common name(s): Lesser periwinkle: Common periwinkle, running myrtle.                                 Greater periwinkle: Big-leaved periwinkle, large periwinkle  

  • Distribution: Found in BC, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick and PEI

  • Regulatory Status: Periwinkle is not a federally or provincially regulated invasive plant. It is still widely available in the horticultural industry. 

Image of field of lesser periwinkle

© Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas via iNaturalist.org, used under CC-BY

Introduction and Spread

Periwinkle is native to Eurasia, the Mediterranean and northern Africa (V. major) and was introduced to North America in the 1700s as a fast-growing ground cover (Wells and Brown 2000; Darcy and Burkart 2002; DiTomaso et al. 2013). The exact introduction date to Canada is uncertain, however, it is suggested that it was present around this time period. Most infestations of periwinkle originate from the intentional planting of this species in gardens and/or the improper disposal of garden waste into natural areas. Periwinkle spreads predominantly through its above and below ground runners that can root at the node (where the leaf attaches). Periwinkle is commonly available in plant nurseries across Canada. To date, there are over 30 cultivars of periwinkle available in the horticulture industry. 

Lesser periwinkle is the more abundant of the two species found in Canada. In the USA, it occurs in 44 states. In Canada it is found in British Columbia, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island (EDDMapS 2025a; iNaturalist 2025a). In the USA, greater periwinkle is found in 44 states and has a limited distribution in Canada being found in isolated populations in British Columbia, Québec and Ontario (EDDMapS 2025b; iNaturalist 2025b). 

Habitat

Periwinkle is commonly planted in gardens as a fast-growing groundcover. From intentional planting in addition to improper disposal of garden waster, periwinkle can spread into disturbed areas such as along roadsides or trails, but can also spread into natural areas such as dense canopy forests due to its shade tolerance (Stone 2009). While it can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, it prefers shade or partial shade and moist soils with good drainage.

Identification

  • Height and Stem: Low-growing, evergreen, herbaceous plant that grows as a dense mat. It creeps along the ground through above and below ground runners. Its stems are very slender, hairless and release a milky sap when broken.

  • Leaves: Its leaves occur opposite along the stem. They are dark green (sometimes variegated, depending on the cultivar), evergreen and leathery. The upper surface is glossy and the lower surface is pale green. The leaves have a green or faint, white midveins. 

    • Lesser periwinkle: Leaves are oval-shaped, narrow, with a blunt tip and smooth margins. They measure 1.25 cm – 5 cm long.  
    • Greater periwinkle: Leaves are heart-shaped or triangular, broad with a blunt tip with margins that are slightly rolled under and are covered in small hairs. They measure 4 cm – 6 cm long.  

  • Flowers: Its flowers are blue to purple (sometimes white or pink depending on the cultivar). The petals are notched and slightly asymmetrical giving the flower a pinwheel appearance. The inside of the flower is white along the edges and shaped like a 5-angled star.

    • Lesser periwinkle: Flowers are borne singly in the leaf axil. The sepals are hairless. They measure < 2.5 cm across.  
    • Greater periwinkle: Flowers are borne in clusters of up to four flowers in the leaf axil. The sepals are covered in fine hairs. The measure 1 cm – 4 cm across.  

  • Fruits: Its fruits are a slender bean-like pod (2 cm – 2.5 cm long). However, fruits are rarely produced because it spreads predominantly through vegetative reproduction.

  • Roots:Extensive network of above and below ground runners. Rootlets are formed at each leaf node which gives rise to new plants. 

Image of lesser periwinkle

Lesser periwinkle

Image of greater periwinkle flower

Greater periwinkle flower

Image of greater periwinkle leaves

Greater periwinkle leaves

Impacts

  • Forms dense mats on the forest floor which allow it to dominate vegetation and displace native plant species including species at risk (Stone 2009). It also creates shaded conditions on the forest floor which has been shown to decrease tree seedling survival (Darcy and Burkhart 2002). 

  • When it grows in riparian areas (near water) and outcompetes native vegetation, it can lead to streambank erosion (Derickx and Antunes 2013).  

  • Has been shown to have allelopathic properties and produces chemicals that prevent the growth of other plants (Darcy and Burkhart 2002, Panasenko and Anishchenko 2018). 

  • Alters soil nutrient cycling by increasing calcium and sulphur levels in soil which has been linked to reductions in plant diversity (Kahri 2004). 

  • Periwinkle hosts several pathogens that impact crops such as lack root rot (Berkeleyomyces basicola), crown gall (Rhizobium radiobacter) and gall (R. rhizogenes) (CABI 2019).  

  • Once established, this plant becomes challenging to remove.  

Life cycle

Periwinkle stays green all-year round. Its leaves will often remain green under the snow. It flowers in April to May and into midsummer, with occasional flowers produced in the fall. They are pollinated by butterflies, bees, flies and beetles. Fruits are rarely produced as this plant spreads predominantly via vegetative growth (above and below ground runners).

What You Can Do

You can help prevent the spread of periwinkle by:

  • PlantWise: Do not plant periwinkle or other invasive species. Choose native or non-invasive alternatives. Dispose of yard waste properly and do not dump it into natural areas.

  • Educate: Learn to identify periwinkle and spread awareness about the ecological risks posed by invasive plants and encourage responsible practices in your community.  

  • Reporting: Report periwinkle and any invasive species to the appropriate provincial authorities such as provincial invasive species councils or report using free tools such as EDDMapS and iNaturalist.  

Other Resources

  1. CABI. 2019. Vinca major (Big periwinkle). CABI Compendium. Available from: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.56402 [Accessed 2025 July 23].   
  2. Darcy A and Burkart M. 2002. Allelopathic Potential of Vinca minor, an Invasive Exotic Plant in West Michigan Forest. BIOS. 73: 127 – 132.   
  3. Derickx L and Antunes P. 2013. Periwinkle (Vinca minor). In A Guide to the Identification and Control of Exotic Invasive Species in Ontario's Hardwood Forests. Algoma University. pp. 143-154. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258633371_A_Guide_to_the_Identification_and_Control_of_Exotic_Invasive_Species_in_Ontario's_Hardwood_Forests.  
  4. DiTomaso J, Kyser G et al. 2013. A Weed Report – Vinca major L. (Big periwinkle). Available from: https://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/crop/natural%20areas/wr_V/Vinca.pdf [Accessed 2025 July 23].  
  5. EDDMapS. 2025a. Common periwinkle (Vinca minor L.). Available from: https://www.eddmaps.org/distribution/usstate.cfm?sub=3081 [Accessed 2025 July 23].   
  6. EDDMapS. 2025b. Big periwinkle (Vinca major L.). Available from: https://www.eddmaps.org/distribution/usstate.cfm?sub=4528 [Accessed 2025 July 23].  
  7. iNaturalist. 2025a. Lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor). Available from: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=6712&subview=map&taxon_id=55844 [Accessed 2025 July 23].   
  8. iNaturalist. 2025b. Greater periwinkle (Vinca major). Available from: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=6712&subview=map&taxon_id=53326 [Accessed 2025 July 23].   
  9. Kahri K. 2004. The Role of Leaf Out Timing and Vinca minor Invasion on a Deciduous Understory Plant Community [Master's thesis, The University of Guelph].   
  10. Panasenko N and Anishchenko L. 2018. Influence of Invasive Plants Parthenocissus vitacea and Vinca minor on Biodiversity Indices of Forest Communities. Contemporary Problems of Ecology. 11: 614 – 623.   
  11. Stone K. 2009. Vinca major, V. minor. In: Fire Effects Information System. Available from: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/vine/vinspp/all.html [Accessed 2025 July 23].   

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