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Common Periwinkle

Vinca minor

Other Common Names

Periwinkle

Plant Category

Groundcover, Vine

Invasive Description

Native to Europe, Common Periwinkle is an evergreen to semi-evergreen trailing or scrambling vine or groundcover that produces five-petaled, single, violet flowers.

Ecological Threat

Introduced to the United States in the 1700s, Common Periwinkle forms thick mats that smother all vegetation, preventing tree and shrub regeneration. The plant can spread in riparian areas by waterborne plant fragments.

How to Eradicate

For information on how to eradicate this invasive, view our statement on herbicide use and preferred alternatives for invasive plants.

Native Alternatives

You can replace this invasive plant with native alternatives. Here are some plants that make superior replacements.

Match your location on the Texas map to the color squares on the replacement plants below to find suitable replacements for your ecoregion.

Click for more details about the ecoregions