Vinca major var. oxyloba

RHS Plant Profile
sharp-lobed greater periwinkle

Synonyms

Vinca major 'Oxyloba'
Vinca minor 'Dartington Star'
Vinca major 'Dartington Star'
Vinca 'Hidcote Purple'
Vinca minor 'Hidcote Purple'
Vinca major var. hirsuta misapplied
Vinca hirsuta misapplied

Shrubs

An evergreen shrub to 30cm tall, with arching shoots and glossy, dark green leaves. Slender-petalled, violet-blue flowers to 5cm across are produced over a long period from mid-spring to late summer

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Apocynaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus
Vinca can be evergreen subshrubs or herbaceous perennials, with simple, paired leaves and solitary, 5-lobed, salver-shaped flowers in the leaf axils
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any but very dry soil, in full sun (for best flowering) to partial shade. Has the potential to become a nuisance if left unchecked

Propagation

Propagate by division or semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Ground cover
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

To restrict growth, cut back hard in early spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to rust diseases