# Herbaceous Periwinkle (*Vinca herbacea*) Herbaceous Periwinkle is a lovely plant with shiny green leaves and pretty blue flowers. It grows close to the ground and can spread quickly, making it a cheerful addition to gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Herbaceous Periwinkle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Vinca_herbacea_sl6.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vinca_herbacea_sl6.jpg) ## Appearance The Herbaceous Periwinkle has delicate, bright green leaves that grow on long, trailing stems. Its five-petaled, pinwheel-shaped flowers are a striking blue-violet, often with a white center, visually differentiating it from evergreen periwinkles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Apocynaceae - **Genus:** Vinca ## Interesting facts - Ancient folklore sometimes linked periwinkle flowers to protection and good luck charms! - Its name 'periwinkle' might come from a Latin word meaning 'to bind,' referring to its creeping stems! - Look closely! Its flowers often have a tiny white 'eye' in the middle, a perfect target for busy bees! - Unlike its evergreen relatives, this periwinkle completely vanishes in winter, only to magically reappear in spring! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Ground Cover:** Herbaceous Periwinkle can quickly spread using trailing stems that root as they grow, effectively covering large patches of ground. - **Winter Disappearance Act:** Herbaceous Periwinkle has the ability to die back completely in winter, allowing it to survive extreme cold and return fresh in spring. - **Shade Seeker:** Herbaceous Periwinkle can thrive in partial to full shade, an adaptation that helps it find growing space where other plants might struggle. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 50-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers for nectar, aiding reproduction. - **Eaten by:** Spanish Slug (*Arion vulgaris*) — Slugs sometimes feed on the leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Herbaceous Periwinkle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Herbaceous Periwinkle? 10-30 cm ### How wide does Herbaceous Periwinkle spread? 50-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on Herbaceous Periwinkle? 2-3 cm ### When does Herbaceous Periwinkle bloom? Spring to early Summer ### Is Herbaceous Periwinkle edible? No ### Is Herbaceous Periwinkle toxic? Mild ### What is Herbaceous Periwinkle's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-valley-arboretum-and-botanic-gardens) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Herbaceous Periwinkle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/herbaceous-periwinkle)