Lesser Periwinkle

Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor) is in the Dogbane Family family (Apocynaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,866 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph Lesser Periwinkle: observations by month (U.S.)

About Lesser Periwinkle

Vinca minor (common names lesser periwinkle or dwarf periwinkle) is a species of flowering plant native to central and southern Europe, from Portugal and France north to the Netherlands and the Baltic States, east to the Caucasus, and also southwestern Asia in Turkey. Other vernacular names used in cultivation include small periwinkle, common periwinkle, and sometimes in the United States, myrtle or creeping myrtle.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Lesser Periwinkle by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (Dogbane Family)

Butterfly MilkweedAsclepias tuberosa

Common MilkweedAsclepias syriaca

Swamp MilkweedAsclepias incarnata

Showy MilkweedAsclepias speciosa

Green AntelopehornsAsclepias viridis

Narrowleaf MilkweedAsclepias fascicularis

Spreading DogbaneApocynum androsaemifolium

Greater PeriwinkleVinca major

Photography tips

• Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
• Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
• Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
• Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.

FAQ