Small (or Common) Periwinkle

Small Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Report

Photo credit: B. Brett

Management Category

Synonyms

Small periwinkle is also known as common periwinkle or lesser periwinkle.

ID Characteristics

General: Small periwinkle is an evergreen to semi-evergreen trailing perennial.

Flowers: The pinwheel-style flowers are pale blue to lavender, up to 3 cm wide. There is one flower per stem, which consists of 5 petals.

Stems: The tender, hairless stems are 10 – 60cm long and form trailing or spreading groundcover. Stems exude a milky latex when broken.

Leaves: Shiny, dark green and narrowly elliptical, 3 – 9 cm long. They grow in pairs on the stem opposite one another.

Fruits: Small periwinkle produces 3 – 5 cm long cylindrical pods.

Similar Species

Invasive

Photo credit: Barry Rice, sarracenia.com, Bugwood.org

Large periwinkle (Vinca major): There are two kinds of invasive periwinkle, small (Vinca minor) and large (Vinca major). As the name suggests, the major difference between the two is the size of their leaves. V. major has slightly larger and broader leaves, that are in an oval or heart shape (pictured to the left). V. minor has smaller, elongated leaves that are lance-shaped.

Exotic

Invasive-free-Certification-online-course-slides-1

Photo credit: Barry Rice, sarracenia.com, Bugwood.org

Madagascar periwinkle (Catharantheus r oseus): This plant is from the same family (Apocynaceae) as Small Periwinkle, and has similar-looking leaves and flowers. This plant can be distinguished from other periwinkle species by it’s pink flowers, and more upright stems. It typically grows in hotter climates, such as Madagascar or the southern US, and is not found in the Sea to Sky.

Habitat and Origin

Native to Eurasia and northern Africa. Small periwinkle was introduced to North America in the 1700s as an ornamental and for medicinal uses.

Small periwinkle thrives in a variety of soils, from well-drained to moist and from sand to clay. It prefers the shade or partial shade of forested and riparian areas. It may also appear anywhere garden refuse is dumped.

How it Spreads

Small periwinkle primarily reproduces vegetatively (by stems rooting at the nodes), but can also reproduce by seed.

In the horticulture trade, small periwinkle is widely sold as a shade-loving groundcover. Improper disposal by gardeners can aid its spread. Small periwinkle also spreads rapidly by stems and stolons (underground stems). Lastly, the seeds can also disperse by water when stems break and wash downstream.

Interesting Fact: Periwinkle is one of the “top six” invasive species purchased throughout BC.

Impacts

Health:

Toxic for humans and animals if ingested.

Ecological:

Discourages the growth of native plants by forming extensive mats along the forest floor.
Encourages erosion on riverbanks as it displaces native, deeper-rooted plants.
Produces biochemicals that prevent germination and growth of other plant species (allelopathic properties).
Reduces the forage available to wildlife.
Hosts black root rot and gall plant diseases.

Prevent the Spread

Small periwinkle is abundant in certain portions of the Sea to Sky region, but has not yet infested all potential habitats. The goal is to contain the spread of small periwinkle to the north of the region.

Regularly monitor properties for weed infestations.
Remove plant material from equipment, vehicles or clothing used in infested areas and wash equipment and vehicles at designated cleaning sites before leaving infested areas.
Ensure soil and gravel are uncontaminated before transport.
Minimize soil disturbances (e.g., use grazing plants that prevent soil exposure from overgrazing), and use seed mixes with dense, early colonization (e.g., alfalfa or barley) to re-vegetate exposed soil and resist invasion.
Ensure invasive plants (particularly flowering heads or root fragments) are bagged or covered to prevent spread during transport to designated disposal sites (e.g., landfill). Do NOT compost.

Control

Mechanical:

Hand-pull repeatedly. Try to remove all of the plant and its roots. Apply mulch to bare soil, or re-plant with non-invasive species after removal. ‘Matting’ small infestations for 4-6 months (covering with tarps) after removal may be effective.

Chemical control:

Herbicide applications in late summer or early fall provide the best control. Triclopyr, glyphosate and imazapyr have proven effective for small periwinkle control, especially as a follow-up to mechanical control methods.
We recommend that any herbicide application is carried out by a person holding a valid BC Pesticide Applicator Certificate. Before selecting and applying herbicides, you must review and follow herbicide labels and application rates; municipal, regional, provincial, and federal laws and regulations; species-specific treatment recommendations, and site-specific goals and objectives.

Biological control: