# greater periwinkle (*Vinca major*) Greater periwinkle is a lovely plant with shiny green leaves and pretty blue flowers. It grows close to the ground and can spread quickly, making it a favorite for gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 19 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Vinca ![greater periwinkle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Vinca_major_-_Flower_and_bud.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vinca_major_-_Flower_and_bud.jpg) ## Appearance The greater periwinkle has striking, vibrant violet-blue flowers with five pinwheel-like petals. Its glossy, dark green, ovate leaves grow on long, trailing stems. It is visually different from its cousin, lesser periwinkle, by having noticeably larger flowers and foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Apocynaceae - **Genus:** Vinca ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans believed periwinkle could ward off evil spirits and bad luck! - Its beautiful flowers look like miniature purple pinwheels scattered on the ground! - Its long, trailing stems can 'walk' across the ground, rooting as they go! - The name 'Vinca' comes from Latin, meaning 'to bind' or 'to wind'! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Ground Cover:** Greater periwinkle can root along its creeping stems, allowing it to spread quickly and cover large areas, outcompeting weeds. - **Shade Dweller:** Greater periwinkle thrives in dense shade where many plants struggle, helping it survive in dimly lit environments. - **Evergreen Resilience:** Greater periwinkle keeps its leaves green all winter, providing continuous ground cover and protecting its soil from erosion. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-45 cm - **Spread:** 60-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Feeds on its leaves, especially new growth. - **Parasitizes:** Periwinkle Rust (*Puccinia vincae*) — Causes orange spots and damage on the leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Domesticated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/domesticated): Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify greater periwinkle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is greater periwinkle? 15-45 cm ### How wide does greater periwinkle spread? 60-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on greater periwinkle? 3-5 cm ### When does greater periwinkle bloom? Spring to fall ### Is greater periwinkle edible? No ### Is greater periwinkle toxic? Mild ### What is greater periwinkle's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ashley River Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashley-river-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Hooes Road Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hooes-road-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Rolling Hills Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rolling-hills-zoo) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Abbeville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbeville-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Academy Grove Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/academy-grove-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Columbia State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park [View all places to see greater periwinkle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/greater-periwinkle) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Greater Periwinkle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greater-periwinkle)