(Vinca minor)

Photo 31: Margery Melgaard, Wisconsin State Herbarium

Biology

• a perennial, evergreen, trailing vine with glossy, dark green leaves
• belongs to the Dogbane family
• produces blue, five-petalled flowers in the spring
• spreads mainly vegetatively by rooting along the stem
• grows in dense mats that exclude most other plants
• can grow in very dry, shady conditions

History in Canada

• introduced to North America in the 1700's from Eurasia as an ornamental
• available from nurseries
• found in southwest British Columbia, and from southern Ontario to Nova Scotia

Photo 32: Jil M. Swearingen, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org

Impact on Trees

• grows as a dense ground cover that prevents tree seedlings from becoming established

Control

• cutting stems followed by removal of all roots
• herbicide application to the entire plant
• several years of control may be needed since the roots can resprout

Links

• Canadian Botanical Conservation Network. Herbaceous Invasive Species. (http://www.rbg.ca/cbcn/en/projects/invasives/i_herb2.html)
• Wisconsin Botanical Information System. Wisconsin State Herbarium. (http://www.botany.wisc.edu/wisflora/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=VINMIN...)
• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinca_minor)
• Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada. Invasive Plants of Natural Habitats in Canada (http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/publications/inv/14_e.cfm#targ30)
• Invasive and Exotic Species. The Bugwood Network and USDA Forest Service. (http://www.invasive.org/browse/subject.cfm?sub=3081)
• Plants Database, USDA. (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=VIMI2)
• Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas (Web Version). Swearingen, J., K. Reshetiloff, B. Slattery, and S. Zwicker. 2002. Available as a PDF file from: (http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/index.htm)