bigleaf periwinkle |
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| Gentianales > Apocynaceae > Vinca major L.
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| Synonym(s): 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 1.5 to 2.5 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, 1.5 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. |
Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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Selected Images from Invasive.org
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Feature(s); vines with new growth in April
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Feature(s); Both regular and variegated varieties shown on right compared to common periwinkle on left
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Feature(s); vine and leaves closeup in April
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s);
Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s); Flower (side view) and vines in April
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s); Common compared to Bigleaf flowers
Summer
Barry Rice, sarracenia.com, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s); in flower
Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s); habit
Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org
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Infestation;
Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org
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Infestation;
Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org
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Seed(s);
Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
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Invasive Reference(s):
Check Invasive.org for most current lists.
- California - Invasive Plant Inventory
- Georgia - EPPC list
- South Carolina - EPPC List
- Texas - Invasive Plant List
- Virginia - Invasive Alien Plant Species
- Mid-Atlantic - EPPC List
External Links
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