Vincas, Periwinkles

Miller, James H.; Manning, Steven T.; Enloe, Stephen F. 2010. A management guide for invasive plants in southern forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–131. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 120 p.

Common periwinkle (Vinca minor L.) and bigleaf periwinkle (V. major L.) are evergreen (leaves always present), somewhat woody, trailing or scrambling vines to 3 feet (1 m) long and upright to 1 foot (30 cm) that form dense ground cover. They have opposite lanceolate-to-heart-shaped leaves and five-petaled pinwheel-shaped violet single flowers. They form mats and extensive infestations even under forest canopies by vines rooting at nodes. Viable seed appear to be produced only rarely.

Management strategies

• Do not plant. Remove prior plantings, and control sprouts and seedlings. Bag and dispose of plants in a dumpster or burn.
• Treat when new plants are young.
• Mowing treatments or injury of the leaves by a string trimmer immediately prior to herbicide spraying improves control with herbicides lacking soil activity.
• Burning treatments are suspected of having minimal effect.

Recommended control procedures

• Thoroughly wet all leaves (until runoff) with one of the following herbicides in water with a surfactant (July to October for successive years): Tordon 101* ‡ as a 3-percent solution (12 ounces per 3-gallon mix) or Tordon K* ‡ as a 2-percent solution (8 ounces per 3-gallon mix); or in spring when safety to surrounding vegetation is desired before stands become dense with new growth, Garlon 4 as a 4-percent solution (1 pint per 3-gallon mix); or during the growing season, repeatedly apply Garlon 4 or a glyphosate herbicide as a 2-percent solution in water (8 ounces per 3-gallon mix) with a surfactant. In winter, herbicide treatments should be limited to warm days.

* Nontarget plants may be killed or injured by root uptake.

‡ When using Tordon herbicides, rainfall must occur within 6 days after application for needed soil activation. Tordon herbicides are restricted use pesticides.

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