Lesser Periwinkle
Vinca minor
NEMBA category
English: Lesser Periwinkle, Common Periwinkle, Dwarf Periwinkle
Afrikaans: Klein Krulrank, Kleinblaar-krulrank
Historical scientific names: Pervinca minor
Vinca minor, commonly known as Lesser Periwinkle or Klein Krulrank, is an alien invasive evergreen perennial. It is characterised by its slender, trailing stems, smaller, glossy dark green leaves, and charming lavender-blue, pinwheel-shaped flowers.
Despite its use as an ornamental groundcover, this plant forms dense mats that out-compete indigenous vegetation and disrupt natural ecosystems in South Africa.
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Origin:
Native to central and southern Europe and parts of western Asia.
Distinguishing features:
Slender, trailing stems that root at nodes.
Smaller, glossy, oval to lance-shaped, dark green leaves, arranged oppositely.
Distinctive lavender-blue, five-petalled, pinwheel-shaped flowers.
Forms dense, low-growing mats, typically shorter than Vinca major.
Evergreen foliage year-round.
Overall appearance:
The Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor) is a neat, low-growing perennial that creates a carpet of glossy green foliage. Its delicate, slender stems creep along the ground, rooting as they go, and are adorned with small, shiny, dark green leaves. In spring and early summer, it adds a touch of subtle beauty with its charming, pinwheel-shaped, lavender-blue flowers that sit gracefully above the dense foliage.
Height:
Typically grows 10 to 15 centimetres tall as a groundcover.
Width:
Forms a dense, spreading mat, usually covering 60 centimetres to 1.5 metres or more, as its stems trail and root.
Leaves:
The leaves are opposite, smaller than Vinca major, oval to lance-shaped, and typically 2-4.5 cm long and 1-2.5 cm wide. They are a glossy, dark green on both surfaces and have entire (smooth) margins. They are somewhat leathery in texture.
Flowers:
The flowers are conspicuous, typically 2-3 cm in diameter, with five petals fused at the base, forming a distinct pinwheel shape. They are a delicate lavender-blue, often with a paler centre, and rarely white. Each flower is solitary and borne on a slender stalk from the leaf axils. Vinca minor flowers are hermaphroditic.
Flowering season:
Primarily flowers in spring and early summer (around August to December), with some sporadic flowering occurring throughout the warmer months.
Fruits:
The fruit consists of two slender follicles (dry pods). However, fruit and seed production are generally very low or absent in South Africa, with the plant spreading almost entirely through vegetative means.
Seeds:
Seeds are rarely produced or viable in South Africa, as the plant primarily reproduces vegetatively.
Stems:
The stems are slender, trailing, and herbaceous when young, becoming somewhat woody with age. They are green or purplish and readily root at the nodes wherever they touch the ground, allowing for effective vegetative spread.
Thorns:
None.
Roots:
Produces a fibrous and shallow root system, with adventitious roots developing profusely from the nodes of its trailing stems, allowing for rapid colonisation and anchorage.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable to a wide range of soil types, preferring moist, well-drained, fertile soils with good organic matter. It tolerates clay, loam, and sandy soils, and can grow in both acidic and alkaline conditions. It thrives in soils with consistent moisture.
Aspect:
Thrives in partial shade to full shade, though it can tolerate full sun in cooler climates or with consistent moisture. It prefers sheltered locations. It requires consistent moisture and is less drought-tolerant than Vinca major. It is hardy to moderate to severe frost (down to -15°C to -25°C in its native range), and generally recovers well from frost damage in South Africa. Its invasive spread is most pronounced in moist, shaded environments.
Ediblity:
Not considered edible for humans.
Toxicity:
All parts of Vinca minor are considered toxic if ingested. It contains various indole alkaloids, including vincamine, which can affect the circulatory and nervous systems. Ingestion can cause gastrointestinal upset (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea) and, in larger doses, more severe symptoms like lowered blood pressure and cardiac rhythm disturbances. It is important to keep this plant away from children and pets.
Uses:
Introduced and widely cultivated as an ornamental groundcover for its attractive foliage and flowers, particularly in shaded areas.
Used to control erosion on banks and slopes due to its dense, mat-forming habit.
Due to its highly invasive nature in South Africa, its cultivation and use should be strongly discouraged and replaced with indigenous alternatives.
Ecology:
As an alien invasive, Vinca minor forms dense, smothering mats that outcompete and suppress indigenous groundcover plants, native herbs, and the seedlings of larger plants, especially in moist, shaded forest floors, woodlands, and riparian zones. This leads to a significant reduction in native plant diversity and alters the natural ecosystem structure. Its ability to root readily from stem fragments and its extensive vegetative spread make it very difficult to control and eradicate. It also has a negative impact on soil moisture and nutrient cycling.
Distribution and habitat:
As an alien invasive plant in South Africa, Vinca minor is widely distributed, particularly in areas with suitable moist, shaded conditions. It is found in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga provinces. It invades indigenous forests, forest margins, riparian areas (along rivers and streams), urban open spaces, and disturbed sites. It readily escapes from gardens and discarded garden waste.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Vinca is derived from the Latin word 'vincire', meaning 'to bind' or 'to intertwine', referring to its long, trailing, and intertwining stems.
The species epithet minor is Latin for 'smaller' or 'lesser', distinguishing it from the larger Vinca major.
The common name "Periwinkle" is believed to be derived from an Old English word 'periwince'.
"Lesser Periwinkle" accurately describes its smaller size compared to Vinca major.
Historical aspects:
Vinca minor has been cultivated as an ornamental groundcover in Europe for centuries, admired for its evergreen foliage and delicate flowers. It was introduced to many parts of the world, including South Africa, for its ease of growth and ability to thrive in shaded conditions. Its robust nature and efficient vegetative reproduction, initially seen as desirable traits for a groundcover, unfortunately led to its widespread escape from cultivation and its subsequent establishment as an invasive species in many suitable climates globally.
Interesting facts:
This plant is like a super-smart creeper – it can grow roots from almost any part of its stem that touches the ground, making it incredibly good at spreading!
Even though its flowers are a beautiful lavender-blue, this plant is a bit of a garden villain because it pushes out all the awesome native plants.
It's often mistaken for its bigger cousin, Vinca major, but you can tell it apart by its smaller leaves and more delicate look.
If you find it growing where it shouldn't be, remember that every little piece you leave behind can grow into a new plant, so you have to be super thorough when removing it!
Plant type: Evergreen, Perennial, Groundcover, Scrambler Plant family: Apocynaceae (Dogbane family) NEMBA status: Category 1b (requiring control by removing and destroying the plant, and preventing its spread)
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