big periwinkle |
Plants: Vines |
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Magnoliopsida > Gentianales > Apocynaceae > Vinca major L.
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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. |
| Image |
Descriptor |
Description |
Photographer |
| 0016132 |
Feature(s) |
vines with new growth in April |
James H. Miller |
| 0016133 |
Feature(s) |
Both regular and variegated varieties shown on right compared to common periwinkle on left |
James H. Miller |
| 0016134 |
Feature(s) |
vine and leaves closeup in April |
James H. Miller |
| 0016135 |
Flower(s) |
in April |
James H. Miller |
| 0016237 |
Flower(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 2307172 |
Flower(s) |
Common compared to Bigleaf flowers
Summer |
Barry Rice |
| 1380416 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1380417 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1380418 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1380419 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1380420 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1380421 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1380422 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5159067 |
Flower(s) |
flowers |
Forest & Kim Starr |
| 5159068 |
Flower(s) |
flowers |
Forest & Kim Starr |
| 5163037 |
Flower(s) |
habit |
Forest & Kim Starr |
| 5204064 |
Flower(s) |
|
Pedro Tenorio-Lezama |
| 5204065 |
Flower(s) |
|
Pedro Tenorio-Lezama |
| 5374205 |
Flower(s) |
|
Joseph M. DiTomaso |
| 5374206 |
Flower(s) |
|
Joseph M. DiTomaso |
| 5391787 |
Flower(s) |
|
Barry Rice |
| 5391789 |
Flower(s) |
|
Barry Rice |
| 5392702 |
Foliage |
|
John M. Randall |
| 5391788 |
Foliage |
|
Barry Rice |
| 5370295 |
Foliage |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 5204067 |
Foliage |
|
Pedro Tenorio-Lezama |
| 5204068 |
Foliage |
|
Pedro Tenorio-Lezama |
| 5306022 |
Infestation |
|
Nancy Loewenstein |
| 5306023 |
Infestation |
|
Nancy Loewenstein |
| 5374204 |
Infestation |
in flower |
Joseph M. DiTomaso |
| 5392703 |
Infestation |
|
John M. Randall |
| 0016131 |
Infestation |
in April |
James H. Miller |
| 5248094 |
Plant(s) |
|
Richard Old |
| 5204066 |
Plant(s) |
|
Pedro Tenorio-Lezama |
| 1380423 |
Plant(s) |
in flower |
Chris Evans |
| 2307168 |
Plant(s) |
April |
James H. Miller |
| 2307173 |
Plant(s) |
April |
James H. Miller |
| 5159065 |
Plant(s) |
habit |
Forest & Kim Starr |
| 5159066 |
Plant(s) |
habit |
Forest & Kim Starr |
| 0016238 |
Plant(s) |
Flower (side view) and vines in April |
James H. Miller |
| 5370293 |
Root(s) |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 5370294 |
Root(s) |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 5309030 |
Seed(s) |
|
Steve Hurst |
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