Periwinkle (Note: The image actually displays Vinca minor, a broadleaf evergreen ground cover, not a grass. The following assessment treats the plant shown as a general ground cover or assumes a typical shade-tolerant ground cover profile for contextual formatting)
Vinca minor · Broadleaf Evergreen Ground Cover (Non-grass)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Ornamental Ground Cover / Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9
Grass Family
Apocynaceae (Note: Not a grass family, but displayed in the image)
Variety / Cultivar
'Bowles Variety' or standard species
About This Grass
Low-growing, trailing evergreen vine with glossy, dark green, opposite leaves and small blue-violet flowers in spring. Forms a dense, uniform carpet.
Blade Characteristics
Leaves are elliptic to ovate, glossy dark green above, paler underneath, leathery texture, 1-3 inches long, with smooth margins.
Root System
Fibrous root system with rooting stems (stolons) where nodes touch the ground, providing excellent slope stabilization.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to central and southern Europe, naturalized globally
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous trailing subshrub forming a dense, mat-like ground cover
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in partial to full shade; moderate water needs once established, drought tolerant in shade.
Mowing & Maintenance
Requires little to no mowing; occasional trimming to contain spread; low maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional shade tolerance, deer resistant, prevents soil erosion on slopes, forms a dense barrier against weeds.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; can form dense monocultures and become invasive in natural woodlands if unchecked; provides limited wildlife cover.