Which Periwinkle, please?

[Pete Collins]

Is this lesser or greater periwinkle? The photo was taken today near Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire.

Spring is coming earlier and earlier - so too are my dumb questions about wildflowers!

[aeshna5]

From the leaves it looks like Greater Periwinkle, Vinca major (can't really guage proportions from photo). Lesser is a fairly prostrate sprawler with narrower leaves.

[Pete Collins]

Thanks very much, aeshna5.

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Pete Collins

Thanks very much, aeshna5.

There are several "wild" cultivars out there too, notably the variagated one, which I'm sure has a correct name

[JennyS]

Theres also Intermediate Periwinkle, Vinca difformis, late autumn and winter flowering. Its got paler-blue flowers than Greater Periwinkle and hairless leaf margins. (Leaves of Greater Periwinkle have tiny hairs along edges)

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by JennyS

Theres also Intermediate Periwinkle, Vinca difformis, late autumn and winter flowering. Its got paler-blue flowers than Greater Periwinkle and hairless leaf margins. (Leaves of Greater Periwinkle have tiny hairs along edges)

I've not seen this species in UK gardens but have seen it growing wild in Menorca. Don't think it's that common here!

[thunder]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I've not seen this species in UK gardens but have seen it growing wild in Menorca. Don't think it's that common here!

Naturalised in West Kent and West Cornwall (where it's the white flowered form) according to Stace

henrya

[JennyS]

I've come across it in gardens here in the South West of Ireland, and found a wild-growing clump beside a road.
Got it in my garden too, and the flowers all through the winter are very welcome.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by thunder

Naturalised in West Kent and West Cornwall (where it's the white flowered form) according to Stace

henrya

Thanks- I hadn't looked in Stace or BSBI Atlas.