Vinca minor, or Periwinkle, is an herbaceous perennial evergreen ground cover from Europe with blue-lavender flowers in spring and early summer. "Periwinkle" sounds cuter than the genus name "Vinca," but this plant with starry blue flowers plays many diverse roles on our planet and not all can be considered friendly. The species name major refers to the larger size in respect of the similar Vinca minor L. There might be some pink cultivars. Periwinkle (Vinca) is a type of the family of the dog-poison-seed-seed (Apocynaceae), that is spread from Europe to West-Asia and to which approximately a scarcely dozen types are counted. Section Menu. They’re both smooth, but Vinca major has … Vinca major Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso. They're perennial, and bear periwinkle blue one inch flowers in spring. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Award-winning Vinca major 'Variegata' (Big Periwinkle) is an evergreen, mat-forming, subshrub or perennial with long prostrate rooting stems covered with ivory-margined, sea green leaves. Flower forms can be single or … Rejuvenate old vinca ground cover plants by cutting it back by … Vinca major will grow in any soil type including clay. Periwinkle is also great for erosion control and filling in tough areas on steeper hills, as well as along banks. Synonyms: Vinca pubescenes, Vinca major var.variegata Common names: periwinkle; bigleaf periwinkle; greater periwinkle; blue periwinkle; myrtle Vinca major (big periwinkle) is a spreading perennial vine or ground cover (family Apocynaceae) with dark green stems that … Perennial vinca (sometimes called periwinkle or creeping myrtle) can be found in two basic forms: Vinca minor and Vinca major. Its leaves, flowers and growth rate are about two-thirds those of Vinca major. There is also a herbaceous vinca, but we won’t get into that. Comparison of V. minor vs. V. major Be aware that Vinca can be invasive, and should only be used in contained areas or spaces where she can have free run. Vinca is slightly more tolerant of sun than pachysandra. The vinca major is commonly known as variegated vinca, while vinca minor is commonly called ‘periwinkle flower’ and ‘creeping myrtle’. Vinca major and vinca minor are shade-loving ground covers, and vinca vine is a trailer with variegated leaves often used in window boxes and containers. Vinca minor is hardy to zone 3 and once established can handle extreme drought as long as it's planted in shade. Variegated vinca goes by many names. Vinca minor is hardy in Zones 4-8. The leaves of Vinca minor are smaller than those of Vinca major. Plant Description As the name suggests, the vinca vine is an evergreen vine with a slender trailing stem, that usually does not exceed a height of 8 to 30 inches. Excellent as a ground cover for large natural areas and around trees, but it can become weedy. Annual Vinca (formerly known as Vinca rosea) is now considered to be in a separate genus. Additional Photos. Vinca major is slightly bigger, slightly less cold hardy and slightly less shade tolerant than vinca minor. Plant Right webpage on Vinca major. What's the difference between these two species? across (5 cm), appear in mid-spring and continue to flower … Periwinkles are fast growing, evergreen ground cover plants with opposing pairs of glossy dark green or variegated, oblong to lance shaped, 1½"-3" leaves. This restraint makes Vinca minor ‘Illuminations’ more suitable for smaller beds and borders, and also for planting in containers and baskets. The two principal types of Vinca plants—Vinca minor and Vinca major—offer low-growing evergreen ground cover and provide drugs for … It will rebloom intermittantly throughout the year. Vinca (Vinca) is a genus of plants native to the Old World and Asia. They produce an abundance of single, 1"-2" funnel shaped flowers with five flared and flattened petals, beginning in mid-spring and … The stems of these plants root at their joints as they creep along the ground and spread rapidly to become a pretty flowering ground cover able to fill in a large area an… In our native deciduous forests there are two of them: the Great Periwinkle and the Small Periwinkle (Vinca major and Vinca minor). They typically stand only 3 to 6 inches off the ground, but their trailing stems can reach 18 inches in length. Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. Both have similar growth habits and appearance. Vinca major, Vinca minor. Looking at leaves, you’ll see the edges are different. Perennial vincas (Vinca minor, V. major) bloom primarily in spring. Other vernacular names used in … The best of the common ground covers to my mind is vinca minor, which is probably best obtained by begging a start from a gardening friend in May or before. Vinca minor (common names lesser periwinkle or dwarf periwinkle) is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family, 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. Learn More. They can be invasive and hard to get rid of in some areas. As you might guess from the name, Vinca major is larger than its cousin. The minor grows to only 4-6 inches tall, the major around 8-9. Big periwinkle (Vinca major) is a low-growing vining plant. They grow to only a few inches high and cover the ground quickly. Vinca minor is a popular ground cover plant is a smaller version of its vigorous relative, greater periwinkle. Vinca major is essentially a larger version of Vinca minor. Clear as mud? They are always blue or white. Common periwinkle (Vinca minor) and big periwinkle (V. major) are usually grown as ground-cover plants. The major difference between vinca major and minor is the size of the leaves, with vinca major being wider and larger, while vinca minor is more streamlined and narrow, as you can see in the photos above and below. Award-winning Vinca minor 'Bowles's Variety' (Lesser Periwinkle) is a vigorous, evergreen mat-forming perennial with glossy dark green leaves and large violet-blue flowers from mid-spring to early summer. Vinca minor grows best in the humus-rich soils of the deciduous woodlands and grows well in areas receiving very little sunlight during the summer. Vinca major is less tolerant of drought and is less cold hardy (USDA cold hardiness zones 6-9 versus 4-9). It has broader leaves, larger flowers, grows taller (12-18" versus 3-8" tall) and has twice as many chromosomes as Vinca minor. Borne on arching shoots over a long season, large violet-blue flowers, 2 in. It is often confused with vinca minor, but it differs from this plant in that the leaves are larger and a paler shade of green. What makes Bowles Vinca Minor vigorous is that it appears to be a naturally occurring hybrid with Vinca major, the other periwinkle we sometimes grow in our gardens. A hardy perennial groundcover, not to be confused with Madagascar periwinkle or vinca major. The hardy strong growing Vinca Minor is a good choice groundcover for hillsides , in shaded areas, poor soil, and other barren areas. I’d have to say the periwinkle Vinca major saves me about a bazillion hours of weeding each summer, smothering out just about any weed bold enough to insist on staking a claim. Vinca minor vs Vinca major Apart from size, which is sometimes hard to judge, there is one key difference between the two. Also referred to as creeping myrtle , trailing periwinkle , creeping myrtle , vinca minor can be contained in specific areas by using edging. The vinca plant tolerates heat well and continues to flower even in the hottest weather. Vinca major NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Vinca minor vines stay short, sprawling out over the ground. … Blooms are typically blue or blue-violet but can also be found in red-violet and white. The vine spreads by rooting at the … 1111 Washington Street SE Olympia WA 98504. Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. May 24, 2020 - Vinca major and Vinca minor, the popular ornamental plants, are known for their dense glossy evergreen foliage and delicate purple-blue flowers. My beagle, Lily, enjoys this verdant ground cover too; I’ve more than once found her napping in it. Vinca minor and Vinca major are evergeen vines (or groundcovers) that much prefer moist shade. Periwinkle: Vinca Major, a sea of knee-high green. P.O Box 42560 Olympia, WA 98504-2560. noxiousweeds@agr.wa.gov. Vinca major--also called bigleaf periwinkle--is a fast-growing perennial vine that features heart-shaped evergreen leaves and violet flowers that bloom from April to June. Preferred growing conditions: Plant Vinca minor in compost enriched, acidic loam. Vinca major and Vinca minor are common versions of the periwinkle plant. Borne over a long period, they continue to flower intermittently throughout summer into fall and are valuable for enlivening … Like us on Facebook! Vinca minor spreads even faster than pachysandra, and although lilies, tulips, and other bulbs can freely penetrate its dense green mat, few weeds can. Vinca minor or major will do well in shade, and spread and fill in fairly quickly, depending upon how far you space the original plants. 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