REPORT

Invasive Plant Details

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Common Periwinkle

Latin Name: Vinca minor

Priority Ranking: Low Priority

Identification

Flower: Small, blue or violet, star-shaped flowers that bloom from spring to early summer.

Leaves: Shiny, dark green, oval leaves that are evergreen.

Stems: Trailing and rooting at the nodes, growing up to 30 cm tall.

Growing Environment: Prefers shaded, moist soils in woodlands and gardens.

Growth Habit: A perennial groundcover that spreads rapidly through creeping stems that root at the nodes, forming dense mats. In situ, common periwinkle forms extensive carpets of shiny green leaves, often completely covering the ground in shaded areas most commonly in lawns and gardens.

Priority Ranking: Low Priority

Impacts on Environment

Impacts: Highly invasive due to its rapid spreading ability and tendency to form dense groundcover, outcompeting native plants.

Toxicity: Mildly toxic if ingested due to alkaloids.

Photo Credits: freenatureimages.eu - Jan Van der Straaten, Ek Stikvoort, H.Baas, Rutger Barendse