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Common periwinkle and Pōhuehue: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE Common periwinkle Vinca minor	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Pōhuehue Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis
	GO NATIVE
Native range
Europe to the Caucasus	Hawaiian native range: Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, Kahoʻolawe, Hawaiʻi, Northwest Islands.See state guides
Sunlight
Sun to part or dappled shade	Full sun
Soil moisture
Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates some dryness	Dry soil
Mature height
3–6 in	Under 1–3 ft
Mature spread
6–18 in; stems root and spread farther	7–15 ft
USDA hardiness zones
4–9	Choose by island, elevation, and rainfall.
Season of interest
Spring–summer flowers; evergreen foliage	Year-round flowers
Garden & wildlife value
Flowers attract bumblebees.	Native trailing stems help stabilize sandy ground in salt spray and wind.
Growing notes
Trailing stems root where they touch soil and can form dense, spreading mats.	Best for a spacious coastal bed; each flower lasts a day, and vines spread widely.
Growing information	Growing information

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.