Common Name: Greater Periwinkle

General Information

Vinca major is an evergreen perennial plant with prostrate, slender, more or less woody stems that can be 100cm or more long, plus erect, flowering stems up to 60cm tall. The prostrate stems scramble over the ground, rooting at the nodes in moist conditions, the plant forming a carpet of growth up to 50cm tall[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. A very ornamental plant, it is often grown in gardens where it is especially useful as a ground cover.
Vinca major has become an invasive plant in countries such as Australia and the USA. It is introduced to new locations usually as an ornamental or medicinal herb. It spreads locally from dumped garden waste, plant fragments carried downstream and as a garden escape along shady corridors. It grows most vigorously in moist shady areas in forests, along streams and urban areas. Once established the herb competes with native vegetation by smothering native groundcover vegetation and preventing the regeneration of trees and shrubs. Vinca major is a serious threat to the understorey of forested areas and streamside vegetation[].

Known Hazards

Large quantities of the plant are poisonous[, ].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Mediterranean - France, Italy, Balkans, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel

Habitat

Copses and hedgerows in S. England[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.40 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Native to the Mediterranean, Vinca major prefers regions with mild winters, tolerating temperatures falling to around -10°c. It grows well in warm temperate regions.
A very easily grown plant, it prefers moderate shade, but tolerates full sun if the soil is reliably moist[].. It can grow in almost any soil[] but prefers those that are on the richer side[], growing well in heavy clay soils. Plants are very shade tolerant but they do not flower so well in deep shade[, , ]. They grow well under deciduous trees[], and in such a situation can succeed in dry soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A very ornamental[] and polymorphic plant[], there are some named forms selected for their ornamental value[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[].
This species rarely if ever sets seed in Britain[]. It spreads rapidly by long trailing stems that root at their tips and leaf nodes, it can be invasive[, ]. Once it is established it will swamp out smaller plants[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is astringent, bitter, detergent, sedative, stomachic and tonic[, , , , , ]. It contains the alkaloid 'vincamine', which is used by the pharmaceutical industry as a cerebral stimulant and vasodilator[]. It also contains 'reserpine', which reduces high blood pressure[].
The plant is used internally in the treatment of excessive menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, vaginal discharge and hardening of the arteries[]. It should not be given to patients with constipation[].
It is applied topically to treat vaginal discharge, nosebleed, sore throat and mouth ulcers[].
The plants are cut when flowering and dried for later use[].

The fresh flowers are gently purgative, but lose their effect on drying[].

A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh leaves[]. It is used in the treatment of haemorrhages[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A very good ground cover for covering steep banks and shady places, spreading rapidly once established and forming a dense cover within 2 years that protects the soil from erosion[, , , , , ]. It is less dense on dry or exposed sites[]. Plants are best spaced about 60cm apart each way[].

Other Uses

The slender, pliable stems are used in basket making[].

Propagation

Seed - it requires a period of cold stratification (probably around 90 days) to stimulate germination - lightly abrading the seed coat to facilitate moisture penetration can also be helpful[].Sow the treated seed in late winter in containers in a shady position in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division is very easy, it can be carried out in spring just before active growth commences[], or in autumn[]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 5 - 10 cm long, early autumn in a cold frame. Roots quickly. High percentage[].