Skip to content

Periwinkle

Vinca Major

Design with this plant

Overview

Periwinkle, or Vinca major, is a fast-spreading evergreen ground cover. It thrives in Zones 7-9, preferring partial to full shade. With its glossy, oval leaves reaching up to 3 inches long, and star-shaped, blue-lavender flowers spreading 1-2 inches wide, it adds vibrant color from spring to autumn. Its trailing stems can extend up to 18 inches. Ideal for erosion control, it requires minimal care once established. Keep invasive tendencies in check.

Sun Half, ShadeWater LowZones 4–9
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — Periwinkle, or Vinca major, is a fast-spreading evergreen ground cover

Culture

Sun
Half, Shade
Water
Low
USDA zones
4–9

Shape & size

Classification

Family
Apocynaceae

See full data, regional cultivation notes, full-resolution photos, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (243)

Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — which requires minimal care beyond occasional pruning to control its spread; where other plants may struggle, image 164
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — where other plants may struggle; blue-lavender flowers spreading 1-2 inches wide, image 165
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — blue flowers in the garden; although it prefers moist, image 166
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — ground cover with blue blooms; infusing the garden with subtle color, image 167
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — ground cover for half or shade; where other plants may struggle, image 168
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — Periwinkle, or Vinca major, is a fast-spreading evergreen ground cover; blue-lavender flowers spreading 1-2 inches wide, image 169
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — It thrives in Zones 7-9, preferring partial to full shade; although it prefers moist, image 170
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — oval leaves reaching up to 3 inches long; infusing the garden with subtle color, image 171
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — blue-lavender flowers spreading 1-2 inches wide; where other plants may struggle, image 172
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — it adds vibrant color from spring to autumn; blue-lavender flowers spreading 1-2 inches wide, image 173
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — Its trailing stems can extend up to 18 inches; although it prefers moist, image 174
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — Ideal for erosion control, it requires minimal care once established; infusing the garden with subtle color, image 175
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — Keep invasive tendencies in check; where other plants may struggle, image 176
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — commonly referred to as Vinca major; blue-lavender flowers spreading 1-2 inches wide, image 177
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — Originating from the Mediterranean region, this trailing vine thrives in U.S; although it prefers moist, image 178
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — although it prefers moist; infusing the garden with subtle color, image 179
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — well-drained soils with partial to full shade exposure; where other plants may struggle, image 180
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — <br><br>Vinca major's glossy; blue-lavender flowers spreading 1-2 inches wide, image 181
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — which measure about 1-2 inches wide and 2-3 inches long; although it prefers moist, image 182
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — five-petaled lavender-blue flowers; infusing the garden with subtle color, image 183
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — around 1-2 inches in diameter; where other plants may struggle, image 184
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — typically grace the plant in mid-spring and intermittently throughout the summer months; blue-lavender flowers spreading, image 185
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — infusing the garden with subtle color; although it prefers moist, image 186
Periwinkle (Vinca Major) — <br><br>For the landscape designer; infusing the garden with subtle color, image 187

Related plants