Vinca major Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso. Blooms are typically blue or blue-violet but can also be found in red-violet and white. Additional Photos. Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. 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 … 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. Borne over a long period, they continue to flower intermittently throughout summer into fall and are valuable for enlivening … Periwinkles are fast growing, evergreen ground cover plants with opposing pairs of glossy dark green or variegated, oblong to lance shaped, 1½"-3" leaves. Vinca major, Vinca minor. They are always blue or white. The two principal types of Vinca plants—Vinca minor and Vinca major—offer low-growing evergreen ground cover and provide drugs for … Like us on Facebook! Preferred growing conditions: Plant Vinca minor in compost enriched, acidic loam. 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. Rejuvenate old vinca ground cover plants by cutting it back by … Vinca minor is hardy to zone 3 and once established can handle extreme drought as long as it's planted in shade. Vinca minor vs Vinca major Apart from size, which is sometimes hard to judge, there is one key difference between the two. Both have similar growth habits and appearance. Section Menu. Periwinkle is also great for erosion control and filling in tough areas on steeper hills, as well as along banks. Vinca major is slightly bigger, slightly less cold hardy and slightly less shade tolerant than vinca minor. Vinca major and Vinca minor are common versions of the periwinkle plant. 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. Looking at leaves, you’ll see the edges are different. Vinca major is essentially a larger version of Vinca minor. Other vernacular names used in … 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. My beagle, Lily, enjoys this verdant ground cover too; I’ve more than once found her napping in it. 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. They grow to only a few inches high and cover the ground quickly. If periwinkle can easily engulf a pot topping 30 inches (above), dandelions don’t stand a chance of … P.O Box 42560 Olympia, WA 98504-2560. noxiousweeds@agr.wa.gov. Vinca minor is hardy in Zones 4-8. The vine spreads by rooting at the … 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. Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. Vinca major is less tolerant of drought and is less cold hardy (USDA cold hardiness zones 6-9 versus 4-9). Vinca minor is a popular ground cover plant is a smaller version of its vigorous relative, greater periwinkle. The vinca major is commonly known as variegated vinca, while vinca minor is commonly called ‘periwinkle flower’ and ‘creeping myrtle’. 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