Name
- Common English name: Periwinkle
- Other names: lesser periwinkle. dwarf periwinkle
- Latin (scientific) name: Vinca minor
History in Canada
- introduced to North America in the 1700’s from Eurasia as an ornamental
- available from nurseries
- found in southwest British Columbia, and from southern Ontario to Nova Scotia
Biology
- a perennial, evergreen, trailing vine with glossy, dark green leaves
- belongs to the Dogbane family
- produces blue, five-petalled flowers in the spring
- spreads mainly vegetatively by rooting along the stem
- grows in dense mats that exclude most other plants
- can grow in very dry, shady conditions
Impact on Trees
- grows as a dense ground cover that prevents tree seedlings from becoming established
What can be done to control this tree killer?
- cutting stems followed by removal of all roots
- herbicide application to the entire plant
- several years of control may be needed since the roots can resprout
More information
- Read more about Periwinkle on TreeCanada.ca
- Periwinkle, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- Invasive and Exotic Species. The Bugwood Network and USDA Forest Service.
- Plants Database, USDA.
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas (Web Version). Swearingen, J., K. Reshetiloff, B. Slattery, and S. Zwicker. 2002.
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