The Big leaf Periwinkle, Vinca major, is also known as Greater (rosy) Periwinkle, Big Periwinkle and Large Periwinkle. The plant is shrub-like and grows to 12″ tall with trailing ascending stems; 1-3 feet long. The leaves are dark green and bigger than that of vinca minor. It has solitary violet flowers at the end of the stem. This ornamental plant is fast growing. The Greater Periwinkles are an evergreen, creeping plant with long trailing or arching stems.



The flowers are carried in the short, ascending stems. It flowers from April through frost. The leaves are shiny, bright-green and broad with a blunt base with hairy margins. It thrives in shady and damp areas; it will melt in full sun in the southern portion of its range. It is usually sold as an annual in zones 3-5 otherwise perennial. It can be used on banks or in other rough locations provided soil is suitable. Cut it back hard in the spring to rid plants of discolored foliage and to enjoy new growth.



The mature spread of the big leaf periwinkle is approximately 1-3 feet and it is widely adaptable to any soil type. The Big leaf periwinkle needs moist to medium moisture in order to be at its best potential. The mature form of the periwinkle is between 12-18 inches and has a growth rate of being a fast spreader.



The Big Leaf periwinkle needs full sun to partial sun in order to grow at its best. It produces a purple flower color that is a gorgeous color that is hard to be beat it is almost an indescribable color that goes well with any back drop or landscape. In the fall the color is a deep green so that your yard or landscape still looks festive and decorative. Don’t you get tired of looking out your window in the fall and winter months and seeing a dingy dull drab yard? With the periwinkle you can see some type of color all year long round rather it is a deep green or a bright purple.



The Big Leaf Periwinkle flowers from April to Frost so that you have a beautiful yard almost year round. The periwinkle is a great flower that makes any yard or area look well groomed and festive. Many families use the periwinkle around ponds or under decks because of its fast growth and dark green color it makes an open area look full and adds the right amount of color to any location.



At TN nursery you can purchase your Big Leaf Periwinkle Vinca Major for a great low price and get a high quality plant that you can count on. They take pride in their products and inspect all their products before being packaged to come to your home. You can visit them if you live locally in Tennessee or visit their website at www.tnnursery.net here you will find lots of products that will make any yard look professionally landscaped in no time.

It can take as little as 2 hours for insects to destroy your plants and all your hard work. You don’t need any annoying pests wreaking havoc on your plants after you’ve spent hours of your time and toil planting out your garden.

Naturally the best thing to do is not allow these unwanted insects into your garden in the first place. The problem is, if we turn to the many pesticides available we run the very real risk of harming the health of our children and pets.

Small children and pets can have their future health jeopardized by the use of some pesticides. Also these chemicals don’t discriminate, they will get rid of all your garden pests – even the ones that are beneficial to your plants and you would want to keep.

Insects like ladybugs and spiders are to be encouraged if you want to control the pests, so you certainly don’t want to kill them before they can do their job. These friends of the gardener will assist you in keeping the bad bugs at bay by eating or discouraging them.

Take the time to contact your local plant nursery and find out what are the best plants to use to encourage the good bugs. By doing this you’ll be allowing them to help you by eliminating the bad pests.

There are some plants with a scent that repels the bad bugs and others that they just don’t like. If you want a healthy harvest of tomatoes, you can plant the herb borage among them or even marigolds, these will stop the pests from damaging your fruit.

Also, don’t allow any rubbish build up, keep your garden beds clear of anything like grass cuttings, dead leaves or weeds. Get in the habit of a regular round up of debris and the bad guys won’t have anywhere to hide.

Using organic methods has the advantage of controlling the insect pests by simple means like using a hot pepper spray on your crops. This will repel most native animal pests as well as insects with it’s hot spicy aroma.

If you’re concerned about any taste left on your edible crops after using this spicy concoction, you don’t have to worry. Just make sure you thoroughly wash them after harvest and you won’t have any problem.

By being proactive you remove the risk of all your hard work being undone. Many gardeners are discouraged by the apparent wasted effort when their crop is ruined by these pests – don’t let that happen to you.

For useful information on the best companion plants to use, go to your local garden center and ask them. They will put you on the right track to keep your garden free of unwanted pests.