Common periwinkle (Vinca minor, Sp. Pl.: 209 (1753))

Family: Apocynaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 209 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Vinca

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to Caucasus

Description

The Common periwinkle, scientifically known as Vinca minor, is a charming and resilient evergreen groundcover that has captivated gardeners and nature enthusiasts for centuries. Described initially in 1753 in the seminal work “Species Plantarum,” this plant was classified by the renowned botanist Carolus Linnaeus (abbreviated as L.). Originating from the diverse and rich landscapes of Europe and extending to the Caucasus region, Vinca minor boasts a storied and widespread natural habitat.

Belonging to the Apocynaceae family, the Common periwinkle thrives in a variety of environments, showcasing its adaptability and robustness. It is often treasured for its lustrous, dark green leaves and its delicate, star-shaped flowers, which can be found in shades of violet-blue, adding a subtle elegance to any garden or green space. The plant’s flowering period typically occurs in the spring, but under favorable conditions, it may continue to bloom sporadically throughout the year.

This hardy plant prefers shaded or partially shaded areas, making it an ideal choice for underplanting in woodland gardens or shaded borders. Its ability to form dense mats of foliage helps suppress weed growth and prevent soil erosion, contributing to its popularity in both ornamental gardening and landscape stabilization projects.

The versatile and low-maintenance Vinca minor is not only aesthetically pleasing but also serves as a crucial component in ecological conservation within its native range. Its extensive root system helps improve soil structure and supports the local biodiversity by providing habitat and resources for various insects and small animals.

In summary, the Common periwinkle is a stellar example of a plant that combines beauty, practicality, and ecological importance. Its enduring presence from the ancient woodlands of Europe to the mountainous regions of the Caucasus continues to highlight its significance and timeless appeal in both natural and cultivated spaces.

Common Names

Eng: common periwinkle, lesser periwinkle, myrtle, running-myrtle, running myrtle
Nor: dagfiol, åkergull
Dan: gyldenlak-hjørneklap, liden singrøn, vellugtende aftenstjerne
Swe: hesperis, rysskårel, storkårel, pikkutalvio, vintergröna, åkerkårel, gravmyrten, sinngröna, vanlig vintergröna
Fin: illakko, peltoukonnauris, pikkutalvio
Deu: kleines immergrün
Lit: mažoji žiemė
Fra: petite pervenche, pervenche mineure
Por: congossa-menor, pervinca-menor
Nob: gravmyrt
Nno: gravmyrt
Nld: kleine maagdenpalm
Lav: maz
Spa: pervinca, vincapervinca
Cym: erllysg lleiaf, gwanwden lleiaf, llowrig lleiaf, perfagl, perfagl fach, ysgarllys bychan
En: Common periwinkle, Running-myrtle, Lesser periwinkle, Myrtle, Periwinkle, Running myrtle, Blue Myrtle, Dwarf Periwinkle, Small Periwinkle, Lesser Periwinkle [plant]
Ar: عناقية صغيرة
Hy: Վինկա ցածրահասակ
Az: Kiçik qıfotu
Eu: Inkonte-belar txiki
Be: Барвенак малы
Bg: Малка винка
Ca: Vinca petita
Zh: Hua ye man chang chun hua, 小蔓长春花
Hr: Mali zimzelen
Cs: Barvínek menší
Da: Liden Singrøn, Gyldenlak-Hjørneklap, Vellugtende Aftenstjerne
Nl: Kleine maagdenpalm
Eo: Eta vinko
Et: Väike igihali
Fi: Pikkutalvio, Illakko, Peltoukonnauris
Fr: Petite pervenche, Pervenche mineure, Violette de serpent, Bergère, Pucelage, Violette des sorciers
De: Kleines Immergrün, Immergrün, Kleinblättriges Singrün
Hu: Kis meténg
Io: Pervinko
Ga: Fincín beag
It: Pervinca, Pervinca minore
Kk: Кіші қабыршөп
Lv: Mazā kapmirte, Maz
Lt: Mažoji žiemė
Mk: Зелениче (растение)
No: Gravmyrt, Dagfiol, Åkergull
Nb: Gravmyrt
Nn: Gravmyrt
Fa: پیچ تلگرافی
Pl: Barwinek, Barwinek pospolity
Pt: Congossa-menor, Pervinca-menor
Ro: Saschiu
Ru: Barvinok malyj, Барвинок малый
Sr: Зимзелен
Sk: Zimozeleň menšia
Es: Vincapervinca, Pervinca, Hierba doncella, Navadni zimzelen, Cielo raso, Vinca, Violeta de asno
Sv: Vintergröna, Hesperis, Rysskårel, Storkårel, Pikkutalvio, Åkerkårel, Gravmyrten, Sinngröna, Vanlig vintergröna
Zh-tw: 小蔓長春花
Zh-hant: 小蔓長春花
Tr: Küçük Cezayir menekşesi
Uk: Барвінок малий
Wa: Pitite vintche
Cy: Perfagl Fach, Erllysg Lleiaf, Gwanwden Lleiaf, Llowrig Lleiaf, Perfagl, Ysgarllys Bychan
Fy: Frisselgrien

Synonyms

• Vinca minor flore-pleno (Drapiez)
• Vinca minor variegata ((Weston) Abbey)
• Vinca minor var. atropurpurea (Sweet)
• Vinca intermedia (Tausch)
• Vinca minor var. intermedia ((Tausch) Nyman)
• Vinca humilis (Salisb.)
• Pervinca procumbens (Gilib.)
• Pervinca repens (Raf.)
• Pervinca minor ((L.) Garsault)
• Vinca minor var. plena-purpurea (Weston)
• Pervinca heterophyla (Raf.)
• Vinca minor f. variegata ((Weston) Rehder)
• Vinca minor f. argenteovariegata ((Weston) Rehder)
• Vinca minor f. alba ((Weston) Dippel)
• Vinca ellipticifolia (Stokes)
• Vinca minor var. alba (Weston)
• Vinca minor var. aureovariegata (W.Mill. ex C.K.Schneid.)
• Vinca minor var. multiplex (Sweet)
• Vinca minor var. variegata (Weston)
• Vinca minor var. argenteovariegata (Weston)
• Vinca minor var. caerulea (W.Mill.)
• Vinca minor var. sabinka (H.Scholz)
• Vinca minor f. violacea (Bolzon)
• Vinca minor f. multiplex ((Sweet) Rehder)
• Vinca minor f. atropurpurea ((Sweet) Rehder)
• Vinca minor var. azurea ((Dippel) C.K.Schneid.)
• Vinca minor f. azurea (Dippel)

Distribution

• Austria (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Italy (native)
• Krym (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Turkey (introduced)
• Turkey-in-Europe (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Mar 29, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Thierry BLANCHARD (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 11, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 11, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 3, 2017 by Eva Sebrechts (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Feb 2, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2017 by Jean-René Girardeau (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 20, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 20, 2019 by Stephane bouvier (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Mar 26, 2020 by Benjj38 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 2, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2021 by Élise Chatevaire (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Sep 5, 2019 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 20, 2022 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 5, 2019 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 3, 2017 by Eva Sebrechts (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 30, 2021 by Guenta K (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 17, 2022 by J J Tamssom (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 6, 2021 by Dan d’Auge (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 10, 2021 by Maya Labeille (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Apr 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3169707)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:82701-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Vinca minor L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Stoloniferous

Growth habit: Forb/herb, Vine

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.7

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 3

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘feb’, ‘mar’, ‘apr’, ‘may’]

Soil nutriments: 6