Running Myrtle, Myrtle, Common Periwinkle, Vinca minor L., Naturalized Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

(Running Myrtle or Greater Myrtle). A trailing plant identified by the glossy ever-green opposite elliptical leaves that appear quite early and remain all season. The 1" blue flowers appearing briefly in May have a funnel like center. They are solitary and arise from the leaf axils. In the Garden, the plant is a ground cover on Violet Way in the Woodland Garden, extensively covering the hillside. As the plant only grows from 3 to 6 inches in height, it makes a good ground cover for shady areas under trees. It forms a dense mat by sending out new runners and rooting along those stems. Thus, in the home garden it may require some control. Popular for many years, the plant is considered an escapee from cultivation and in some states such as Wisconsin and Tennessee is considered in the wild to be weedy or invasive.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Common Periwinkle	Vinca minor L.	Dogbane	Woodland	Spring
Other names and notes	(Running Myrtle or Greater Myrtle). A trailing plant identified by the glossy ever-green opposite elliptical leaves that appear quite early and remain all season. The 1" blue flowers appearing briefly in May have a funnel like center. They are solitary and arise from the leaf axils. In the Garden, the plant is a ground cover on Violet Way in the Woodland Garden, extensively covering the hillside. As the plant only grows from 3 to 6 inches in height, it makes a good ground cover for shady areas under trees. It forms a dense mat by sending out new runners and rooting along those stems. Thus, in the home garden it may require some control. Popular for many years, the plant is considered an escapee from cultivation and in some states such as Wisconsin and Tennessee is considered in the wild to be weedy or invasive.