Vinca major, with the common names Bigleaf Periwinkle, Large Periwinkle, Greater Periwinkle and Blue Periwinkle, is an herbaceous, perennial, rhizomatous and stoloniferous flowering plant in the genus Vinca belonging to the family Apocynaceae.

Etymology

The genus name probably derives from the Latin word vincire, meaning bind, as the long creeping vines were used to prepare garlands. The species name major refers to the larger size in respect of the similar Vinca minor L.

Description

Vinca major is an evergreen trailing vine, spreading along the ground and rooting along the stems to form dense masses of groundcover individually 2-5 m across and scrambling up to 50-70 cm high.

The leaves are opposite, nearly orbicular at the base of the stems and lanceolate at the apex, 3-9 cm long and 2-6 cm broad, glossy dark green with a leathery texture and an entire but distinctly ciliate margin, and a hairy petiole 1-2 cm long.

The flowers are hermaphrodite, axillary and solitary, violet-purple, 3-5 cm diameter, with a five-lobed corolla. The calyx surrounding the base of the flower is 10–17 millimetres (0.39–0.67 in) long with hairy margins. The flowering period extends from early spring to autumn.

Vica major subsp. hirsuta

Subspecies

There are two subspecies, with geographically separate ranges:

• Vinca major subsp. major. Leaf petioles finely hairy, hairs short. Southern Europe.
• Vinca major subsp. hirsuta (Boiss.) Stearn (syn. V. pubescens d'Urv.). Leaf petioles densely hairy, hairs longer; petals much narrower. Caucasus, northeastern Turkey.

The closely related species Vinca minor is similar but smaller, with narrower, hairless leaves.

Distribution

This species native to southern Europe and northern Africa is distributed from Spain and southern France east to the western Balkans, and also in northeastern Turkey and the western Caucasus.

Habitat

Vinca major prefers moist undergrowth, woodlands, hedgerows and banks along the rivers at an altitude of 0–800 metres (0–2,600 ft) above sea level. It grows well in full sun and in deep shade.

Cultivation and uses

Vinca major is a commonly grown ornamental plant in temperate gardens for its evergreen foliage, spring flowers, and groundcover or vine use.

Cultivars

Many cultivars are available, with differences in flowers, such as white to dark violet flowers, and different patterns and colors of variegated foliage.

Gallery

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  Detail of the flower, swelling flower buds and foliage in spring

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  Giant steps periwinkle, a variety of Vinca major

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  A display of the flower of subsp. hirsuta

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  Flower of Vinca major

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  Note hairy margin of sepals

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  Leaf of Vinca major

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  Leaves of Vinca major with ciliate margins and a hairy petiole

Invasive plant species

Vinca major is an invasive species in temperate parts of the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It is especially a common noxious weed 'smothering' native plants and diversity in riparian area and oak woodland habitats of coastal California.

References

• Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982, Vol. II, pag. 348
• Flora Europaea: Vinca major distribution
• Blamey, M., & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. Hodder & Stoughton.
• Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening 4: 664-665. Macmillan.

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