Blue Periwinkle
About Blue Periwinkle (Vinca major)
Blue periwinkle is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a trailing herb with a woody crown bearing runners up to 1m long. It has glossy leaves and pretty blue-purple or sometimes white flowers. It is a trailing plant that forms dense mats. It is a significant threat to biodiversity and river health, shading out native plants and competing for moisture and nutrients. Its growth is particularly vigorous.
How it escapes
Blue periwinkle expands by creeping stems that take root at the nodes and tips. It readily escapes under fences or through gaps to neighboring land, reserves or bushland. It can also establish very quickly from plant fragments in dumped garden waste, soil movement or floods. Once established, its rampant growth makes it very difficult to control, especially in bushland.
How to keep it in your garden
It is advisable to dig up and pull out this plant completely and choose an alternative non-weedy plant. Once established, blue periwinkle is extremely difficult to control. If you do keep it in your garden, excess growth should be pulled out or dug up and disposed of in council facilities.