Vinca major                Apocynaceae

Large Periwinkle                VING-ka MAY-jor

• Evergreen ground cover, 12-18 inches (30-46 cm) tall, spreading.  Leaves opposite, 2.5-7.5 cm long, entire, broad-base, nearly heat-shaped, glossy dark green.  Flowers solitary, lavender-blue, 3.8-5 cm long, larger than the more common V. minor.
• Part shade to shade.  Some say it tolerates more sun than V. minor, others say less.  It certainly does well in the shade on moist, well-drained soil.
• Hardy to USDA Zone (6) 7
      Native to southern Europe and western Asia.  Several cultivars differ in leaf shape and color (variegated) and flower color (white, bluish purple, and reddish purple).
• major: a reference that its leaves are larger than those of V. minor.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: southwest side of Ag. Strand Hall.