E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of BC

Vinca minor L.
common periwinkle
Apocynaceae (Dogbane family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

General:
Trailing perennial herb, freely rooting; stems spreading, 10-60 cm long, branching.

Leaves:
Opposite, egg-shaped to egg-shaped-lanceolate, narrowed at the base, 3-9 cm long.

Flowers:
Solitary, bluish-purple, usually 20-30 mm wide, 1 per stem, calyx lobes glabrous.

Fruits:
Long cylindric pods without tufted hairs, 3-5 cm long.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Origin Status	Provincial Status	BC List (Red Blue List)	COSEWIC
Exotic	SNA	Exotic	Not Listed

BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer.

1. Flowers usually 20-30 mm wide, usually solitary; calyx lobes glabrous; leaves narrowed at the base................ V. minor

1. Flowers usually 30-50 mm wide, up to 4 per stem; calyx lobes ciliate; leaves squared-off or somewhat heart-shaped at the base........................ V. major

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