Plant · GBIF taxon 3169708
greater periwinkle
Vinca majorAlso known as Bigleaf Periwinkle, Large Periwinkle, Blue Periwinkle
Greater periwinkle forms dense evergreen mats that carpet forest floors and garden beds with glossy green foliage. Its vibrant violet-blue, five-petaled blooms appear in early spring and continue sporadically through the summer months. Prostrate trailing stems root wherever nodes touch moist soil, allowing it to rapidly choke out native understory vegetation.
EvergreenGroundcoverFlowering
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil nutrients
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
ThreatsHabitat management and herbicide application in invasive ranges
HabitatsWoodlands, riparian corridors, shaded garden beds, disturbed areas
Life spanPerennial (indefinite via vegetative cloning)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderGentianales
- FamilyApocynaceae
- GenusVinca
- SpeciesVinca major
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- All parts contain toxic alkaloids that cause illness if ingested; keep away from pets and livestock.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains cytotoxic indole alkaloids such as vincamine, causing severe gastrointestinal distress, low blood pressure, and systemic toxicity if eaten.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by dark green opposite leaves, trailing woody runners, and distinct pinwheel-shaped blue-purple flowers.
- What to do
- Wear gloves when removing large stands to avoid sap contact, and ensure plant debris is discarded away from grazing animals.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for opposite, glossy, heart-shaped leaves with fine hairs along the leaf margins.
- Containment: Prune trailing vines aggressively near garden boundaries to prevent escape into local waterways.
Competitor (c) Marianna Boi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Marianna Boi · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Louis Aureglia, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Louis Aureglia · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.