Weedbusters

Working together to protect New Zealand

  • Weedbusters
    • Who are Weedbusters?
  • What Are Weeds?
    • Weed List
    • Controlling Weeds
    • Disposing of Weed Waste
    • Banned Plants
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Weedbuster
    • Weedbusters Near You
    • Weed Quiz
    • 2-Minute Film Challenge Previous Winners
    • Funding Sources
  • Articles & Events
    • Articles
    • Events
    • Submit an Article
    • Submit an Event
  • Resources
    • How To…
    • Free Weedbusting Guide
    • Plant Me Instead Booklets
    • Weed Control Handbook
    • Display Panels
    • Media-Ready Material
    • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
You Are Here:
  1. Home
  2. Articles & Events
  3. Articles
  4. Article
Articles & Events

Article

  • Articles
  • Events
  • Submit an Article
  • Submit an Event

Popular Links

  • Find That Weed!
  • Try the Weed Quiz
  • Read the Latest Articles
  • Weedbusters Near You
  • Weedbuster Events

Pretty periwinkle a real pest

By Weedbusters, 12 March 2016

Periwinkle is a common plant in old homestead gardens, cemeteries and woodland areas. Hailing from the Mediterranean, and once widely planted throughout New Zealand as an effective groundcover in shaded areas and on steep banks, periwinkle is a vigorous, prostrate, rambling perennial. Dark green leaves occur in opposite pairs on long, slender, trailing stems. Pretty solitary, violet blue, five-petalled flowers appear year round. The variegated form, with cream and green leaves, is equally as vigorous and troublesome.

It is easily spread through the dumping of garden waste and contaminated soil. Having a creeping, layering habit, combined with rhizomes and stems that root easily, allows periwinkle to form dense, long-lived stands. It is especially tolerant of dense shade and therefore capable of smothering the forest floor, thus preventing the establishment of native seedlings. Periwinkle also inhabits many other areas including shrublands, streamsides, coastline, fernlands and rocky outcrops, where it smothers existing plants and opens up the area to invasion by taller, weedy species.

Periwinkle is extremely difficult to kill. Dig out small areas and dispose of plant material at a refuse transfer station or burn. For larger stands, spray with: 20 ml/L glyphosate + penetrant. Follow-up twice annually in spring and autumn, and spray resprouting pieces with 30 ml/L glyphosate + penetrant. Continue followup treatments for three or more years. Large, flat areas can also be mown 2-3 times a year, followed by grubbing out roots, or covered in black plastic and left for six months. Dig out surviving plants and follow up regularly to check for regrowth.

REPLACE IT: Once eradicated, replant with: native panakenake (Pratia angulata) or creeping fuchsia (Fuchsia procumbens); or exotic speedwell (Veronica prostrata).

Share
Prev article
All articles
Next article

Weedbusters

  • Who are Weedbusters?

What Are Weeds?

  • Weed List
  • Controlling Weeds
  • Disposing of Weed Waste
  • Banned Plants

Get Involved

  • Become a Weedbuster
  • Weedbusters Near You
  • Weed Quiz
  • 2-Minute Film Challenge Previous Winners
  • Funding Sources

Articles & Events

  • Articles
  • Events
  • Submit an Article
  • Submit an Event

Resources

  • How To…
  • Free Weedbusting Guide
  • Plant Me Instead Booklets
  • Weed Control Handbook
  • Display Panels
  • Media-Ready Material
  • Useful Links
  • Home
  • Contact Us

© 2023 • Website by RS

  • Home
  • Weedbusters
    • Who are Weedbusters?
  • What Are Weeds?
    • Weed List
    • Controlling Weeds
      • Controlling Pest Shrubs & Trees
      • Controlling Pest Vines
      • Controlling Pest Herbs & Ground Covers
      • Controlling Pest Grasses
      • Controlling Pest Aquatic Weeds
    • Disposing of Weed Waste
    • Banned Plants
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Weedbuster
    • Weedbusters Near You
    • Weed Quiz
    • 2-Minute Film Challenge Previous Winners
    • Funding Sources
  • Articles & Events
    • Articles
    • Events
    • Submit an Article
    • Submit an Event
  • Resources
    • How To…
      • Raise Weeds Awareness
      • Organise a Weedbusters Event
      • Put Together a Press Release
    • Free Weedbusting Guide
    • Plant Me Instead Booklets
    • Weed Control Handbook
    • Display Panels
    • Media-Ready Material
    • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
  • Find us on Facebook