Greater Periwinkle

On Mar 2, 2016, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

I've tried growing this in pots. A branch layered into the ground, and it's become an ineradicable weed. Glyphosate does nothing to it, and I've been unsuccessful at digging it out.

Naturalized in 33 states and British Columbia (BONAP).

The California Invasive Plant Council has listed this species as invasive of natural habitat in California.

On Sep 12, 2012, stephenp from Wirral, UK, Zone 9a,
United Kingdom (Zone 9a) wrote:

Bit of a nuisance here, it has let itself go in the wild and has colonised woodlands, and pretty much colonises anywhere it can find. It is a winter flowerer only here.

Pretty flowering though!

On May 25, 2010, ZiggyGoodfellow from Beverly Hills, CA wrote:

Why is this plant listed as "poisonous" in all parts?

It's listed as an herb in Charles W. Kane's "Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest" (although he emphasizes mainly external applications), in John Lust's "The Herb Book", where either Vinca Major or Vinca Minor is recommended as a tea for nervousness, and in Matthew Wood's "The Earthwise Herbal", where both tinctures and infusions are recommended.

Surely if all these herbalists recommend that people take teas of the plant into their body, it is not poisonous!

If anyone would like to email me a response to this, I'd appreciate the input.

Ziggy

[email protected]

On Oct 16, 2009, purplesun from Krapets,
Bulgaria (Zone 8a) wrote:

I don't like this plant. Although it is native here, it is aggressive and a nuisance to keep in bounds. My mom likes it though.

On May 1, 2009, gmclamb from Charlotte, NC wrote:

I hate this stuff, it is a major headache. Does anyone know when these plants produce the seeds? I want to cut it back and start pulling up as soon as possibe but I don't want to do it if it has seeds that will spread even more than they already have. I live in N.C. and today is May 1, 2009. If anyone knows anything about this plant's timing on seeds please let me know at: [email protected]

On Oct 20, 2008, rubygloomrox2 from Red Wing, MN wrote:

I like this for the acidic shady area out back where nothing else grows under the pine tree. It's a fantastic filler plant. However, it was very neglected and when I moved in, the only thing growing here. So I've had to put in borders around it in order to keep it under control and be able to grow other plants. Otherwise nothing has a chance and anything else gets choked out.
They are very pretty, though, and if you have an area where it's okay for them to just grow wild and nothing else seems to work, this is the plant for you. However, know that you will need to take care any place else you plant it.

On Jan 11, 2008, tbweber from Huntsville, AL wrote:

Horribly invasive even when completely neglected. Roundup won't touch it, and digging makes only a small dent as the tiniest piece of root will continue to spread. Also loves to hide in other plants. My liriope is infested with vinca now. It does have pretty new foliage and blooms in February here, but by summer's heat it's just a tangle of vines, some 15 feet long. Will also jump any edging to take over your lawn. If you're in zone 7, please reconsider before adding this one - or come to my house with a shovel and large truck.

On Jun 17, 2006, pforrester from Fallbrook, CA wrote:

I bought a flat of periwinkle b/c I saw a large shaded bank covered with them in Santa Paula CA. So I just planted part of the flat (42plants) Under my trees. Hoping they will become groundcover without having to bring irrigation specifically to them. There are some drip hoses here and there and some might get some water from the grass sprinklers. I will report back. I hope they go everywhere. I am in zone 10b San Diego county.

On Dec 26, 2005, taraAthan from Redwood Valley, CA wrote:

Vinca major is invasive in riparian (streambank) areas in California and other Western US states. Problems it causes are displacement of native species, erosion and bank destabilization, and it is a host for the insect pests blue-green and glassy-winged sharpshooters, which carry Peirce's disease, a pathogen of vineyards and orchards.

The alternative, vinca minor ,is a better choice for landscaping in these regions- it is not invasive. If you have this plant in your landscape, please try to keep it from spreading into the riparian areas.

On Apr 4, 2005, JaxFlaGardener from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 8b) wrote:

I have the variegated form of this plant growing as a ground cover in one of my flower beds. It is spreading, as desired, and currently in bloom. It provides an interesting, low-growing background for my other plants.

On Nov 7, 2003, Kelli from L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) wrote:

Very invasive in this climate (low-elevation, non-desert southern California) and very hard to get rid of. Has naturalized in the wild.