Periwinkle
Vinca minor
Also called Lesser periwinkle and Creeping myrtle
Garden plant · PerennialsEvergreen ground cover for dry shade, and it roots wherever a shoot touches down — which is why it is useful on a bank and a nuisance in a small bed.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Once a weekWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full shade to full sun
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 0.3 m tall · 1.25 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Europe and western Asia
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-11. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.