Vinca Major Greater Periwinkle

Vinca Major or Greater Periwinkle is a trailing vine native to the Western Mediterranean. It rarely reaches more than 0.5 metres tall but spreads outwards continuously in a thick mat. Its growth is primarily prostrate with some shoots growing more upright. This beautiful Greater Periwinkle vine has attractive glossy leaves and bold, purple, star-shaped flowers. Vinca Major flowers all summer, keeping your garden looking great from early spring until autumn. 

Its fast growth and trailing nature make the Greater Periwinkle an excellent ground cover. It can even out-compete many weeds, perfect for a low maintenance garden. If you don’t have a large garden Vinca Major can also be grown in pots and makes attractive hanging baskets.  Another asset of Vinca Major is that it is an evergreen perennial and will tolerate temperatures down to  minus 20° Celsius. It is hardy enough to be grown throughout the UK.

Vinca Major can also be grown in nearly any area in your garden. It can be grown in full sun or full shade though it does flower best in partial shade or full sun. It tolerates all soil types, moisture levels, and soil pH. Vinca Major can bring beauty to previously bare areas of your garden where other plants just won’t thrive.  If you need to transform a previously unappealing space this variety of Vinca is perfect. It is often used to cover shaded banks, woodlands, roadsides or hedges. It looks stunning when allowed to drape over stonewalls. Its ability to grow on steep, shaded and moist areas also makes it ideal for erosion prevention. 

Vinca Major requires little maintenance but benefits from occasional watering and can be dead-headed. It can be cut back in the spring to restrict growth if desired.
Historically Vinca’s attractive foliage has been used for wreaths and garlands. It also has been used as a medicinal herb.