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|image_caption=Large Periwinkle (''Vinca major'') flower

|image_caption=Large Periwinkle (''Vinca major'') flower

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'''''Vinca''''', {{pron-en|ˈvɪŋkə}},<ref>''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607</ref> from [[Latin]]  ''vincire'': "to bind, fetter", formerly known as pervinca<ref>[http://www.plants.am/wiki/Vinca Vinca article]</ref>, is a genus of five species in the family [[Apocynaceae]], native to [[Europe]], northwest [[Africa]] and southwest [[Asia]]. The common name '''periwinkle''' is shared with the related genus ''[[Catharanthus]]'' (and also with the common seashore [[mollusc]], ''[[Common periwinkle|Littorina littorea]]'').

The Vinca is classified as so:

Kingdom: ''Plantae''

They are [[subshrub]]s or [[herbaceous]], and have slender trailing stems 1-2 m (3-6 feet) long but not growing more than 20-70 cm (8-30 inches) above ground; the stems frequently take root where they touch the ground, enabling the plant to spread widely. The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite, simple broad lanceolate to ovate, 1-9 cm (0.25-3.5 inches) long and 0.5-6 cm (0.25-2.25 inches) broad; they are [[evergreen]] in four species, but [[deciduous]] in the herbaceous ''[[Vinca herbacea|V. herbacea]]'', which dies back to the root system in winter. Vinca will spread extremely fast.

Division: ''Magnoliophyta''

The [[flower]]s, produced through most of the year, are salverform (like those of ''[[Phlox]]''), simple, 2.5-7 cm (1-3 inches) broad, with five usually violet (occasionally white) petals joined together at the base to form a tube. The [[fruit]] consists of a group of divergent [[follicle (fruit)|follicles]]; a dry fruit which is [[dehiscent]] along one rupture site in order to release seeds.

Class: ''Magnoliopsida''

Because the plant spreads quickly, it is sometimes used as a groundcover.  Although attractive, both ''Vinca major'' and ''Vinca minor'' can be considered invasive because of the rapid spreading and the possibility of choking out native species if the vine  enters a forested area where it is not controlled <ref>[http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/problem-solving/weeds-vinca/]</ref> <ref>[http://www.emeraldnpso.org/PDFs/Invas_Orn.pdf]</ref>.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists both ''Vinca major'' and ''Vinca minor'' in a list of invasive vines found in the Southeastern United States <ref>[http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr_srs062/03_vines.pdf]</ref>.  In other cases, ''Vinca'' has been recommended as a fire retardant ground cover <ref>[http://msuextension.org/publications/YardandGarden/MT200101AG.pdf]</ref>.

Order: ''Gentianales''

For example, ''Vinca major'' (also known as big leaf periwinkle) is considered by some to be an ideal ground cover for mountain areas of moderate climate, such as in southern California (20 deg F to 90 deg F). It is fire retardant and relatively drought resistant. It will grow thick enough to mitigate erosion on hillsides and is invasive enough to choke out undesirable grass/brush, but not too invasive to control. It grows very well in shaded to semi-shaded areas without irrigation, and will grow fine in direct sunlight if watered occasionally (though may wilt in temperatures above 85 deg F). It goes dormant in the winter and will "lie down" after a freeze, but will not die even when covered with snow for an extended period. It will return up to 18 in. tall by the beginning of summer, then slow down as the temperatures increase. With the exception of boundary control where necessary and light watering when desired, ''Vinca major'' requires absolutely no maintenance, and will thrive even at elevations over 6000 ft.

 

Family: ''Apocynaceae''

 

Genus: ''Vinca''

Vinca (pervinca, old Latin name of periwinkle, used by Pliny). Apocynaceae. Erect or procumbent or trailing herbs or subshrubs, some used for bloom in the flower-garden, others for decorative foliage in the greenhouse and in window-boxes and others for permanent ground-cover out-of-doors.

Vinca (pervinca, old Latin name of periwinkle, used by Pliny). Apocynaceae. Erect or procumbent or trailing herbs or subshrubs, some used for bloom in the flower-garden, others for decorative foliage in the greenhouse and in window-boxes and others for permanent ground-cover out-of-doors.

==References==

==References==

*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->