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Vinca major L., Sp. Pl. 209 1753. (Syn: Pervinca major (L.) Garsault; Vinca major var. variegata LOUDON);
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Keys at Flora of China;
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VIN-kuh — Latin: vincire (to bind, to tie, or to fetter) — refers directly to the plant’s long, tough, trailing stems that weave together tightly to bind the soil and form a dense mat ... compiled from the web
MAY-jer — greater, larger, or bigger … compiled from the web . commonly known as: blue periwinkle, greater periwinkle, large leaf periwinkle, large periwinkle
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Turkey (N-Anatolia, NE-Anatolia, NW-Anatolia: Bithynia, S-Anatolia), Rhodos, Cyprus (C-Mountains, N-Cyprus), East Aegaean Isl., European Turkey, Lebanon (Antilebanon, C-Lebanon), Sicily, Italy, former Yugoslavia, Albania, Slovakia (introduced), Portugal (introduced), Spain (introduced), France, Corsica (introduced), Sardinia, Malta (introduced), Crimea (introduced), Greece (introduced), Crete (introduced), Austria (introduced), England (introduced), Ireland (introduced), Switzerland (introduced), Morocco (c), Algeria (c), Ukraine (introduced), Northern Caucasus (introduced), Transcaucasus (introduced), Kazakhstan (introduced), Tajikistan (introduced), Uzbekistan (introduced), Costa Rica (introduced), Australia (introduced) (Western Australia (introduced), South Australia (introduced), Queensland (introduced), New South Wales (introduced), Victoria (introduced), Tasmania (introduced)), Peru (introduced), Argentina (introduced), Venezuela (introduced), Uruguay (introduced), Juan Fdz. Isl. (introduced), Chile (introduced), Mexico (introduced), Ecuador (introduced), Bolivia (introduced), Colombia (introduced), New Zealand (introduced), Chatham Isl. (introduced), South Africa (Cape Prov.(introduced)), China (introduced) (Jiangsu (introduced), Yunnan (introduced), Zhejiang (introduced)), Taiwan (introduced), Lord Howe Isl. (introduced), Norfolk Isl. (introduced), trop. Africa (introduced), Madagascar (introduced), Azores (introduced) (Flores Isl. (introduced)), Madeira (introduced) (Madeira Isl. (introduced)), Canary Isl. (introduced) (Gran Canaria (introduced), Tenerife (introduced), La Gomera (introduced), Hierro (introduced), La Palma Isl. (introduced)), Hawaii (introduced) (East Maui (introduced)), India (introduced), Pakistan (introduced), USA (introduced) (Alabama (introduced), Arkansas (introduced), Arizona (introduced), California (introduced), Georgia (introduced), Idaho (introduced), Illinois (introduced), Kentucky (introduced), Louisiana (introduced), Massachusetts (introduced), Maryland (introduced), Mississippi (introduced), North Carolina (introduced), New Mexico (introduced), New York (introduced), Ohio (introduced), Oregon (introduced), Pennsylvania (introduced), South Carolina (introduced), Tennessee (introduced), Texas (introduced), Utah (introduced), Virginia (introduced), Washington State (introduced)), Canada (introduced) (British Columbia (introduced)) as per Catalogue of Life; A few months back there was a lot of discussion on this group and some confusion primarily because of representation of the two species at FOI. Whereas the specimens of V. major are not typical of the species, the true specimens of V. major are depicted under V. minor. I have collected a lot of V. major in Kashmir, Manali and other hill stations. The plant is much lax with trailing branches reaching several metres, leaves which are usually ovate, almost as broad as long, truncate or cordate at base, flowers nearly 1.5-2 cm across borne on almost 3-5 cm long stalks. The leaf margins and calyx lobes are ciliate.
I could not find V. minor in India but was lucky to find it growing in California here. The plant is with shorter branches, smaller nearly elliptic-oblong leaves which are narrowed at both ends, smaller flowers nearly 2.5 cm across on nearly 1-2 cm long stalks. Leaf margins and calyx lobes are glabrous
I am uploading both V. major from Manali and V. minor from California to show better comparison so that V. minor could be searched in India and brought to our databases. I am posting pictures which I have. Attachments (3). The first two I believe to be of Vinca minor. I have put a cropped picture showing leaf margin, which is supposed to be hairless in Vinca minor. You have to see the two growing in nature to appreciate the differences. I believe your first two specimens are V. major and third V. probably V.minor (though not typical). Found V. major also in California. Attaching leaf margin blow up to highlight differences between the two species. The flower size of V. major is almost twice (nearly 5 cm diam.) as compared to V. minor. Attachments (2) Having found more of Vinca major as well as Vinca minor in California here. I find the following clear differences: Vinca major Vinca minor 1. Plants loosely spreading on ground with longer internodes Plants compactly spreading on ground with shorter internodes
2. Leaves broadly ovate, 5-9 cm long, 3/4 to as broad Leaves elliptic to oblong, 2-4 cm long, about 1/2 as broad
3. Leaf base truncate or subcordate, margin minutely ciliate Leaf base rounded or cuneate, margin not ciliate
4. Pedicel 3-5 cm long Pedicel 1-2 cm long
5. Flower 3-5 cm in diam Flower 2.5-3 cm in diam.
I am attaching more photographs from California. Attachments (8)
Apocynaceae for id 010311MK1 : Date/Time- 06-12-2011 / 03:15 PM
Flora from Srinagar 24072013 CS 3 : Attachments (2). 5 posts by 3 authors.
Name: Vinca minor I believe both are cultivated
Rather Vinca major These mails of mine should help Sir ji I did tag it as Vinca major as you had identified the image from my last trip. Then when I was browsing I came across many sites indicating this as V. minor. I thought I had saved your ID wrongly. Your expert eye catches the distinction. So I will change this back to V. major. Thank you.
What flower?/ABMAR31 : 6 posts by 4 authors.
I have a feeling that I should know this flower that looks a bit like the Morning Glory. The white edged pentagon at the centre is almost symmetrical. Please advise. Above Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, HP
1800m
27 March 2015 looks like Vinca major of apocynaceae
I have only seen them as prostrate gound cover … was it? Thank you … Yes, there was quite a spread of these on the ground. You are spot on–a Vinca major it is. Vinca minor? A garden escape that has become naturalized in the hills. Thank you … I am including a tight crop of the earlier picture of leaves to show the hairy margins. I took this info from the www.flowersofindia.net which says that hairy leaf margins point to the Vinca major. Please advise. Attachments (1) Yes Vinca major I found a slope covered in these periwinkles and photographed it to share here. Above Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, HP
1800m
11 April 2015
Attachments (2) it the leaf margin confirms v major
Flora of Himachal Pradesh: Vinca minor from Summer Hill Road Shimla : Attachments (4). 3 posts by 2 authors.
Vinca minor from Summer Hill Road Shimla Very beautiful pics… Should be Vinca major as per Vinca major and V. minor – efloraofindia | Google Groups
Plant for ID–PC-14-13.10.2015 : 7 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (2) The flower appears to be Vinca minor (Apocynaceae). However, Let’s wait for confirmation. efi pages on Vinca minor & Vinca major Yes Vinca minor. A common ornamental in hill stations of Uttarakhand. Should be Vinca major as per Vinca major and V. minor – efloraofindia | Google Groups Thanks … I think your ID is correct. The plant in picture is Vinca major. I will correct the ID.
Ground Cover for ID, Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, NAW-JUL17-09 : 10 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (5) Kindly identify this ground covering plant with purple flowers photographed in Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh in May 2017.
Flowers about 3 cms. wide.
… major or… minor? Pl. check in efi site with these words as I am unable to recall genus name right now. Pl. check with images & keys at Vinca minor I think, it should be Vinca major Kindly see the differences between V. major and V. minor as provided by … Sir. I think I checked them before giving I’d. As per comparative images and keys by … at Vinca, it should be Vinca minor Yes, … It is Vinca minor On further scrutiny, it is Vinca major only as per keys at Flora of China …, long pedicel in photographs is indicative of Vinca major. Thanks, … You were also initially right. Hair on the leaf margins is supposed to indicate Vinca major – i think these do have a hairy margin tho the pictures are not very clear. Pl. id. plant from Chamba district in HP
I believe the violet flower is from Vinca minor Yes it is Vinca minor. The wrinkled cordate leaves should be ignored. They belong to different plant. On further scrutiny, it is Vinca major only as per keys at Flora of China
We do not have Vinca minor from India so far in our database. I think it is also not reported from India.
SK1082 11 APR-2018 : 5 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (5)
Location: Nagarkot, Nepal
Date: 3 April 2018
Altitude: 6000 ft.
Habit: Cultivated Pl. check /species/a—l/a/apocynaceae/vinca Thank you …! Vinca major ‘Variegata‘ ???
Yes, … To me also appear close to images at Vinca major
Vinca major L. : 5 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (6) – around 600 kb each.
Location: Godawari, Nepal
Date: 18 April 2018
Altitude: 5000 ft.
Habit : Cultivated
Vinca major AT/MAY 2018/04 : 3 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (4)
Vinca major
Bigleaf periwinkle, Large periwinkle or Greater periwinkle Shimla April 2018 This species has leaves with ciliate margins and hairy petiole. Pedicel is long              
for ID 020710 a ET – efloraofindia | Google Groups .
Location: Kew, London, UK
Altitude: 19 m.
Date: 04 April 2022
Habit : Looks Wild
Vinca major var. oxyloba Stearn but GBIF says this is syn of Vinca major L. And the flower looks different for Vinca major var. oxyloba Stearn and Vinca major L. ! Vinca major flowers are completely different. I know the other one as the name used by the RHS which is Vinca major var oxyloba… growing in my old garden.
(I never normally label my pics with var or subsp)
1 and 2. My pics below to show the difference between Vinca major and Vinca minor.
3. back of flower
4. Vinca major var oxyloba.
4 images. Yes I agree … ! Just wondering, GBIF labled them as one !
References: . J&K, Mattan, April 2023 :: Vinca major :: ARK2023-026: 2 high res. images. These flowers were captured at the Martand Surya mandir in Mattan near Pahalgam, J&K in April 2023.
Guessing them to be Vinca major based on eFI and FoI pics.
Requested to please confirm. Yes …, quite common in valley. I also saw it on the Shankaracharya hill in abundance. Images from the Shankaracharya hill. .
 Names of Plants in India :: Vinca major L.: 1 image. Vinca major L. VIN-kuh — Latin: vincire (to bind, to tie, or to fetter) — refers directly to the plant’s long, tough, trailing stems that weave together tightly to bind the soil and form a dense mat ... compiled from the web MAY-jer — greater, larger, or bigger … compiled from the web commonly known as: blue periwinkle, greater periwinkle, large leaf periwinkle, large periwinkle
known for / parts made use of: the leaves, the stems, and the whole-plant extract … compiled from the web. botanical names: Vinca major L. … and more at POWO, retrieved October 18, 2026 Bibliography / etymology / notes
Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will. The bits about the languages of India mentioned below are merely some bare facts gathered from the internet; just enough to satisfy curiosity about “where” could the listed names be best prevalent in India. All English transliterated names to be taken sensu amplo.
~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
blue periwinkle, greater periwinkle, large leaf periwinkle, large periwinkle
THE OVERLOOKED DENIZEN
The English names for this species are neither popular nor commonly recognized by the general public in India. Even local nurseries identify it strictly by its botanical name, Vinca major, or specifically as the ‘variegated trailing vinca vine’. Furthermore, as an introduced, exotic plant native to Europe and the Mediterranean, it does not feature in traditional Indian lexicons, ancient Indian traditional texts like Ayurveda or local folklore, which are the usual sources of rich regional names. … compiled from the web.
~~~~~ KNOWN DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
introduced by the British during the colonial era in the temperate regions of the following states of India: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal … compiled from the web.
~~~~~ Created on: 20:47 17-10-2026 ¦ Last updated: 16:29 18-10-2026 (DD-MM-YYYY) ~~~~~
. References:
POWO |
Vinca major (Introduced)
Updated on October 22, 2026