Vinca minor

Vinca minor is a trailing subshrub, spreading along the ground and rooting along the stems to form large clonal colonies and occasionally scrambling up to 40 centimetres (16 in) high but never twining or climbing. The leaves are evergreen, opposite, 2–4.5 centimetres (0.79–1.77 in) long and 1–2.5 centimetres (0.39–0.98 in) broad, glossy dark green with a leathery texture and an entire margin.

The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils and are produced mainly from early spring to mid summer but with a few flowers still produced into the autumn; they are violet-purple (pale purple or white in some cultivated selections), 2–3 centimetres (0.79–1.18 in) diameter, with a five-lobed corolla. The fruit is a pair of follicles 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long, containing numerous seeds.

The closely related species Vinca major is similar, but larger in all parts, and also has relatively broader leaves with a hairy margin.

Ground cover with dense growth

Vinca minor in castle ruins

The species is commonly grown as a groundcover in temperate gardens for its evergreen foliage, spring and summer flowers, ease of culture, and dense habit that smothers most weeds. It was once commonly planted in cemeteries in parts of the Southern United States and naturalized periwinkle may indicate the presence of graves whose other markers have disappeared.[3]

The species has few pests or diseases outside its native range and is widely naturalised and classified as an invasive species in parts of North America. Invasion can be restricted by removal of rooting stems in spring.[4] Once established, it is difficult to eradicate, as its waxy leaves shed most water-based herbicide sprays. However, spraying with glyphosate easily kills the plant in 2-3 weeks. Removal involves cutting, followed by immediate application of concentrated glyphosate or triclopyr to the cut stems. Repeated chemical treatments may be necessary, along with digging up the roots where feasible.[5]

Cultivars

Cv. ‘Argenteovariegata’

There are numerous cultivars, with different flower colours and variegated foliage. Many have a less vigorous habit than the species, and are therefore more suitable for smaller gardens. The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-[6]

• 'Argenteovariegata'[7] (leaves have creamy white margins)
• 'Atropurpurea'[8] (burgundy-purple flowers)
• 'Azurea Flore Pleno'[9] (double blue flowers)
• 'Bowles’s Variety’[10] (violet-blue flowers: also known as ‘Bowles’s Blue’ and ‘La Grave’)
• 'Ralph Shugert'[11]

Vinca minor contains more than 50 alkaloids, including vincamine.[12] Other alkaloids include reserpine, rescinnamine, akuammicine, majdine, vinerine, ervine, vineridine, tombozine, vincamajine, vincanine, vincanidine,[13] vinburnine, apovincamine, vincaminol, desoxyvincaminol,[14] vincorine[15] and perivincine.[16]

Vinpocetine (brand names: Cavinton, Intelectol; chemical name: ethyl apovincaminate) is a semisynthetic derivative alkaloid of vincamine.

The colour name periwinkle is derived from the flower.

• Flora Europaea: Vinca minor distribution
• Morphology and ecology of Vinca minor (in Spanish)
• Borealforest: Vinca minor
• Vinca minor (from Ohio State University's Pocket Gardener)
• Common periwinkle (as an invasive species; includes photos)
• Blamey, M., & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. Hodder & Stoughton.
• Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening 4: 665. Macmillan.
• detailed technical description
• Encyclopedia of Life database entry

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vinca minor.

• Traditional Medicine Uses: Vinca minor
• "Vinca minor". Plants for a Future.
• "Vinca minor". Calflora. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database.
• Vinca minor in the CalPhotos photo database, University of California, Berkeley