The California Invasive Plant Council includes Vinca major on its hit list but not Vinca minor.

There are notes of it being a problem in eastern U.S. (summer rains).

I've never seen Vinca minor acting anything like "invasive" (I've used it on some jobs). It takes its time to get established and then hangs on very nicely.

I've heard of a few people who allowed it to get out of hand and then it's a bear getting out.

Joe

Thanks, Joe.

I'm not sure how he intends to use it -- as a ground cover en mass, or grown among other plants. As a groundcover grown alone, it might not be a problem --- but what about if planted with other plants?

A reason for my concern is the invasiveness of the tiny sweet Ipheion bulb in our soil. Others (including Wanda in this forum) say it does not spread in their gardens ---- but in our yard, the Ipheion took took over and spread EVERYWHERE. I spent hours one afternoon digging up HUNDREDS of little Ipheion bulbs in a small area about 1-2 feet square, where I planted just 4 or 5 bulbs just a few years before.

If the Vinca minor takes hold like that here, I will not be happy.

"...what if planted among other plants.?"

I'm positive it will not choke ouot trees, shrubs and woody vines. Nor large perennails.

But I certainly wouldn't plant it amongst my annual sweet patooties nor frail little perennials. It's assertive, no question about it. It will out-compete a whole bunch of stuff.

Too bad that a lot of people simply don't know the difference between this useful species and the rampant-psychotic-weed called major. I had a nurseryman un-sell one of my clients Vinca minor; told her it was a weed along with V. major. I confronted him and he proceeded to show me a patch of Vinca major in a landscape next to his nursery. It was Vinca major, the non-variegated form.

Vinca minor is a good, dense, weed-suppresant and persistent groundcover. It's what a long-term landscape should have. Kind of a trade-off. It needs management.

Joe

Thanks, Joe. That only partially eases my mind. :-) Words like "assertive", "dense", "persistent", make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I'll discuss with our designer tomorrow. I'd LOVE it, if it won't turn into a nightmare like the Ipheion.

I'm constantly pulling it out. It comes over from the neighbor's property, along with Algerian Ivy, palm tree seedlings, and other dreadful stuff. Thumbs down.

hoovb: You're talking about V. minor... correct? Are you sure it's not V. major?

Vinca major:

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx218/gardenguru1950/Vinca_major_020207_1.jpg

Vinca minor:

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx218/gardenguru1950/Vinca_Minor.jpg

Vinca minor has subtley darker and subtley glossier foliage that is slightly smaller. Vinca minor sits very flat to the ground whereas V. major gets quite "fluffy", even "billowy".

Joe

Perhaps the variegated form is less vigorous. My dad planted the variegated yellow and green variety as a groundcover in sandy soil and it all died. I have tried it in pots and killed it too. I think it may do better in clay soils that hold more moisture.
Renee

Thanks Joe. The one in the flats looks most like V. minor except for the variegated leaves, and it's certainly very flat.

Renee -- I swear our soil has steriods.... if a plant tolerates clay, it will grow ---- BIG. You may be right about the water-retentive soil being a factor.

Thumbs down. I have rich clay and still trying to eradicate this without poison.

I did use it (V. minor) on a steep mountainside area of fast draining 'soil' at my mom's.
No summer water -- it is suited for that spot (other plants can't make it).
Hmmm, should have planted Ipheion -- it is confined to pots at my house!

I am agreement with iris_gal z9 (we have almost the same name and same zone LOL! but my "iris" is after my DLD...dear little dog!) We had vinca minor at our former house and it had managed to find its way into flower beds almost all the way around the house. When we had our present house built, which is 25 miles away, I swear that the vinca followed us here because it ended up in my flower beds and I spent one summer pulling it out, along with mint and wild strawberry. I also have ipheion which I am guilty of planting from just a few bulbs but I let it stay because it looks charming when it blooms and I don't have to treat it nice. But don't even get me started on the evil Blue Dawn vine which will be here til the end of time.

hoovb: You're talking about V. minor... correct? Are you sure it's not V. major?

Yes, Vinca minor attacks from the neighbors on the east and west sides. Vinca major attacks from the neighbor in the back, and I'm constantly pulling that cr-p out, too!

Does anyone expect ANY groundcover to simply stop at a designated boundary?

That reminds me of so many clients and students that want a tree that "grows fast to 20 feet and then stops".

It's one thing to drop seeds all over or to pop up from hidden underground shoots 10 feet from the mother plant. It's another to simply be vigorous.

There's a reality here.

Joe