Common Periwinkle

Vinca minor

Native to:
Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Krym, Netherlands, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Sicilia, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Ukraine

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Apocynaceae
Genus:
Vinca
Species:
Vinca minor
USDA Symbol:
VIMI2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb , Vine
Height:
20 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may
Bloom Colors:
blue, purple, white
Ground Cover:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers shaded woodland environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–28 days
Notes:
Germination can be erratic; typically propagated vegetatively rather than from seed.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI