Flower profile
Greater periwinkle
Vinca major
Greater periwinkle is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in February–May.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina
Quick look
Vinca major, the greater periwinkle, also sometimes called bigleaf periwinkle, large periwinkle or blue periwinkle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to the Mediterranean region. Growing to 25 cm (10 in) tall and spreading indefinitely, it is an evergreen perennial, frequently used in cultivation as a ground cover.
- It belongs to the Apocynaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 24 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. NatureServe
- In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–May. iNaturalist
- In Georgia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,909 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #93 among the 111 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,123 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #80 among the 111 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 423 research-grade sightings of it in South Carolina, ranking #89 among the 111 flowers on our South Carolina list. iNaturalist
Greater periwinkle gift ideas
Handmade greater periwinkle gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Greater periwinkle art print
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Greater periwinkle greeting card
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Greater periwinkle mug
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Greater periwinkle earrings
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Greater periwinkle embroidery pattern
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Greater periwinkle sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | Introduced | February–May | 1,909 |
| Georgia | Introduced | February–April | 1,123 |
| South Carolina | Introduced | February–December | 423 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- North Carolina
- Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
- Georgia
- Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
- South Carolina
- No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in South Carolina.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records greater periwinkle in 24 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington.
North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alexander, Cherokee, Lee, Swain, Transylvania, Wake.
Georgia counties with USDA records: Bartow, Clarke, DeKalb, Elbert, Randolph.
South Carolina counties with USDA records: Cherokee, Fairfield, Florence, Laurens.
More North Carolina flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile VIMA.
- iNaturalist, Vinca major: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Vinca major (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
- Georgia: Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed).
- South Carolina: South Carolina State Plant Pest List, plants (S.C. Code Regs. 27-135; Clemson Dept. of Plant Industry).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Vinca major (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Michael J. Papay via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.