Native Plant Alternatives to Vinca major (Big Periwinkle)

Vinca major, commonly known as big periwinkle or blue periwinkle, is considered invasive in some regions, particularly in parts of the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

Originally native to Europe and Western Asia, Vinca major is a fast-growing, evergreen perennial with trailing vines that root wherever they touch the soil, making it a popular ground cover plant. Its attractive blue-violet flowers add to its appeal in ornamental gardening.

However, Vinca major’s aggressive growth habit, coupled with its tolerance for various environmental conditions, means that it can easily escape cultivation and invade natural habitats, including forests, riparian areas, and scrublands. Once established, it forms dense, monocultural mats that can smother native vegetation and prevent the germination and growth of native plant species, thereby reducing biodiversity.

Control and removal of Vinca major can be difficult due to its extensive root system and its ability to regenerate from small pieces of stem left in the soil. Therefore, prevention is key to controlling this species.

Big periwinkle is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.