Borne on arching shoots over a long season, large violet-blue flowers, 2 in. across (5 cm), appear in mid-spring and continue to flower … … Also referred to as creeping myrtle , trailing periwinkle , creeping myrtle , vinca minor can be contained in specific areas by using edging. Big periwinkle (Vinca major) is a low-growing vining plant. Vinca major is less tolerant of drought and is less cold hardy (USDA cold hardiness zones 6-9 versus 4-9). Rejuvenate old vinca ground cover plants by cutting it back by … 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. Borne over a long period, they continue to flower intermittently throughout summer into fall and are valuable for enlivening … As you might guess from the name, Vinca major is larger than its cousin. They typically stand only 3 to 6 inches off the ground, but their trailing stems can reach 18 inches in length. They are always blue or white. Vinca minor vs Vinca major Apart from size, which is sometimes hard to judge, there is one key difference between the two. It's a variegated form of Vinca major, also known as greater periwinkle.It's also known as bigleaf periwinkle (Vinca major ‘Variegata'), and the "variegated" part of its name means that the leaves of the plant exhibit markings of different colors.When planted outdoors, it's an … The two principal types of Vinca plants—Vinca minor and Vinca major—offer low-growing evergreen ground cover and provide drugs for … Learn More. Vinca major is slightly bigger, slightly less cold hardy and slightly less shade tolerant than vinca minor. There is also a herbaceous vinca, but we won’t get into that. Flower forms can be single or … 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 minor vines stay short, sprawling out over the ground. Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. Other vernacular names used in … Preferred growing conditions: Plant Vinca minor in compost enriched, acidic loam. Periwinkles are fast growing, evergreen ground cover plants with opposing pairs of glossy dark green or variegated, oblong to lance shaped, 1½"-3" leaves. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. A hardy perennial groundcover, not to be confused with Madagascar periwinkle or vinca major. 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. Perennial vinca (sometimes called periwinkle or creeping myrtle) can be found in two basic forms: Vinca minor and Vinca major. 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, Vinca majoris less cold hardy, more tolerant of heat, has broader, hairier leaves, larger flowers, and twice as many chromosomes. Periwinkle: Vinca Major, a sea of knee-high green. There might be some pink cultivars. The hardy strong growing Vinca Minor is a good choice groundcover for hillsides , in shaded areas, poor soil, and other barren areas. 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. In our native deciduous forests there are two of them: the Great Periwinkle and the Small Periwinkle (Vinca major and Vinca minor). 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 … Vinca minor and Vinca major are evergeen vines (or groundcovers) that much prefer moist shade. Vinca minor is hardy to zone 3 and once established can handle extreme drought as long as it's planted in shade. The leaves of Vinca minor are smaller than those of Vinca major. The vine spreads by rooting at the … Vinca major, Vinca minor. Vinca is slightly more tolerant of sun than pachysandra. If periwinkle can easily engulf a pot topping 30 inches (above), dandelions don’t stand a chance of … Section Menu. Vinca major and Vinca minor are common versions of the periwinkle plant. They grow to only a few inches high and cover the ground quickly. They're perennial, and bear periwinkle blue one inch flowers in spring. Like us on Facebook! Periwinkle is also great for erosion control and filling in tough areas on steeper hills, as well as along banks. 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. They’re both smooth, but Vinca major has … 1111 Washington Street SE Olympia WA 98504. Vinca minor is hardy in Zones 4-8. Looking at leaves, you’ll see the edges are different. 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. Variegated vinca goes by many names. 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. "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. P.O Box 42560 Olympia, WA 98504-2560. noxiousweeds@agr.wa.gov. Vinca minor, or Periwinkle, is an herbaceous perennial evergreen ground cover from Europe with blue-lavender flowers in spring and early summer. Vinca major Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso. 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. Vinca major is essentially a larger version of Vinca minor. Annual Vinca (formerly known as Vinca rosea) is now considered to be in a separate genus. Vinca major will grow in any soil type including clay. The species name major refers to the larger size in respect of the similar Vinca minor L. 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. 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. 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. The minor grows to only 4-6 inches tall, the major around 8-9. It has broader leaves, larger flowers, grows taller (12-18" versus 3-8" tall) and has twice as many chromosomes as Vinca minor. Blooms are typically blue or blue-violet but can also be found in red-violet and white. 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. What's the difference between these two species? Common periwinkle (Vinca minor) and big periwinkle (V. major) are usually grown as ground-cover plants. Its leaves, flowers and growth rate are about two-thirds those of Vinca major. It will rebloom intermittantly throughout the year. 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. 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. Both have similar growth habits and appearance. The vinca plant tolerates heat well and continues to flower even in the hottest weather. Perennial vincas (Vinca minor, V. major) bloom primarily in spring. My beagle, Lily, enjoys this verdant ground cover too; I’ve more than once found her napping in it. Additional Photos. They produce an abundance of single, 1"-2" funnel shaped flowers with five flared and flattened petals, beginning in mid-spring and … This restraint makes Vinca minor ‘Illuminations’ more suitable for smaller beds and borders, and also for planting in containers and baskets. Excellent as a ground cover for large natural areas and around trees, but it can become weedy. 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. 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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