Maryland Native Plant Society

Horror Site: Leakin Park, May 2006, Invaded by Vinca minor

Rod Simmons led a plant walk May 27, 2006, through Leakin Park, located just inside the Baltimore City line. While we looked for species of Carex to identify, we treked through this section of the forest where a huge expanse of hillside above and below us was carpeted almost entirely with Vinca minor, otherwise known as Periwinkle. This plant is commonly sold in garden centers as a groundcover, and cover the ground it does very well, as you can see from these photos.

Photos were donated courtesy of Beth Johnson.

Vinca minor carpeting Leakin Park forest.

Long-distance view of Vinca minor carpet. The plants smother all but the largest plants, such as Podophyllum peltatum (May Apple). Smaller more delicate plants can't poke through.

Close-up of Vinca minor carpet.