| big periwinkle |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: VIMA USDA ARS GRIN: 41679 ITIS: 30237 |
| Vinca major L. | |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Gentianales: Apocynaceae |
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| Synonym(s): bigleaf periwinkle, large periwinkle, greater periwinkle, periwinkle | |
Bigleaf periwinkle is an evergreen to semi-evergreen, trailing vine that reaches to over 6.6 ft. (2 m) in length. The stems are stout, somewhat woody and green in color. The opposite, glossy leaves are 1 ½ to 2 ½ in. (3.8-6.4 cm) long and heart-shaped to elliptical. Some varieties have variegated leaf colors. Flowers are violet to blue (possibly white) in color, 1 ½ to 2 in. (3.8-5.1 cm) wide, and 5-petaled. Bigleaf periwinkle invades open to shady forests often around former plantings at old homesites. It forms dense and extensive mats along forest floors that exclude native vegetation. Bigleaf periwinkle is native to Europe and was first introduced into North America in the 1700s as an ornamental. It is still commonly sold as an ornamental ground cover. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Feature(s); vines with new growth in April James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Both regular and variegated varieties shown on right compared to common periwinkle on left James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); vine and leaves closeup in April James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Flower (side view) and vines in April James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Common compared to Bigleaf flowers Summer Barry Rice, sarracenia.com, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- Native Plant Society of Oregon, 2002
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 1998
- Reichard, Sarah. 1994. Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced in North America. University of Washington Ph.D. dissertation.
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- California Invasive Plant Council
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 2
- South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council Severe Threat
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