Native Plant Alternatives to Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle)

Vinca minor, commonly known as periwinkle or creeping myrtle, is a flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. It has been widely used as an ornamental plant for its attractive evergreen foliage and its blue, purple, or white flowers that bloom in spring.

In certain regions where it has been introduced, Vinca minor can become invasive. Particularly in parts of North America and New Zealand, it has escaped cultivation and spread into natural areas. It forms dense and extensive mats that can crowd out native vegetation, particularly in forest understories and along stream banks. Its aggressive growth and ability to root wherever its stems come into contact with the ground make it a robust competitor against native plant species.

Lesser Periwinkle is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

While Vinca minor can be an easy-to-grow groundcover in shaded areas where many other plants struggle, it’s important to consider its potential invasiveness before planting it, particularly if you live near natural areas where it could escape into. If you already have Vinca minor in your garden, you can help prevent its spread by regularly trimming it back and ensuring it doesn’t spread beyond your garden.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.