Small periwinkle, creeping myrtle, common periwinkle, vinca
Vinca minor
🌿 Morphology
🌞 Growing conditions
🌍 Origin and family
🌾 Uses
Warning: Despite the care taken in writing this sheet, it is essential to cross-reference sources before using or consuming any plant. When in doubt, consult a qualified professional
Permaculture uses
Ground cover to prevent erosion and suppress weeds. Considered an edible wild green, though caution is advised due to potential toxicity. Used medicinally for its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. Attracts pollinators. Some cultivars have variegated leaves or different flower colors.
Permapeople description
Vinca minor @ Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern
Propagation - transplant
Sow into pots in greenhouse or indoors in later winter. Plant out to permanent spots in late spring or early summer - after threat of last frost has passed.
Propagation - division
Divide in spring just before active growth. Plant divisions directly into their permanent spots.
Propagation - cuttings
Take cuttings of mature wood from the current season's growth, 5-10cm long in early autumn. Root out with frost protection.
Botanical description
Vinca minor is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It is native to central and southern Europe, from Portugal and France north to the Netherlands and the Baltic States and east to the western Caucasus, and also in southwestern Asia in Turkey. It is a trailing vine, spreading along the ground and rooting along the stems to form dense mats. The leaves are opposite, elliptic-lanceolate, 1–4.5 cm long and 0.5–2.5 cm broad, glossy dark green and leathery in texture. The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils and are typically violet-blue, 2–3 cm diameter, with a five-lobed corolla. The fruit is a follicle.
Companion planting
Generally compatible with most plants as a ground cover. Can be aggressive, so consider its potential to outcompete smaller or slower-growing plants. Good for suppressing weeds around trees and shrubs.
Propagation methods
Division of established clumps, stem cuttings (root readily in water or soil), layering, and seed (though seed propagation is less common).
History and traditions
Historically used in Europe for medicinal purposes, including treatment of inflammation and bleeding. Associated with protection and luck in some folklore traditions. Also planted in cemeteries as a symbol of remembrance and eternal life.
Usage calendar
Flowering: Spring (March-May). Planting: Spring or fall. Pruning: Early spring to control spread and remove dead growth.