Blue periwinkle (Vinca major)

Also known as: greater periwinkle

Blue periwinkle is a trailing, perennial herb with blue or violet flowers. It outcompetes native plants, reducing food and habitat for native animals and is poisonous to livestock.

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How does this weed affect you?

Blue periwinkle:

• outcompetes native plants, especially in riparian and other moist environments
• reduces food and habitat for native animals
• is poisonous to livestock and possibly other animals.

Livestock poisoning

This weed is known to be toxic to horses, cattle and sheep. Blue periwinkle contains alkaloids that can reduce blood pressure, dilate blood vessels, and cause diarrhea.

What does it look like?

Blue periwinkle is a creeping herb that grows up to 0.5 m tall but mostly trails over the ground or other plants. 

Leaves are:

• green or sometimes variegated (with white patches on the edges)
• glossy on top, paler and duller on the undersides
• oval shaped with a pointed tip and round or heart-shaped base
• 2–8 cm long and 1.5–4.5 cm wide
• hairy along the edges
• on stalks 5–12 mm long
• opposite along the stem.

Flowers are:

• usually blue or violet, sometimes whitish in the centre
• tubular at the base spreading to 5 petals
• 2–5 cm wide
• on short stems
• present in spring and summer.

Fruit are:

• cylindrical and tapered at both ends
• dry with 1–10 seeds 
• about 5 cm long
• green when young
• brown when mature
• usually in pairs.

Seeds are:

• 7–8 mm long
• roughly textured
• rarely present in NSW.

Stems:

• are slender, and hairless
• grow up to 1 m long from a woody crown
• produce a milky sap when damaged.

Roots:

• form fibrous mats 15–30 cm deep in the soil
• develop from the stem notes above the ground.

Where is it found?

Blue periwinkle mostly grows in temperate climates and occasionally subtropical climates. It does not grow in semi-arid, alpine, or tropical areas. This weed can form dense infestations in areas with over 600 mm of annual rainfall and in drier areas it grows along watercourses and drains.

Plants are shade-tolerant and can thrive under tree canopies. It has been found growing in sclerophyll forests, amongst coastal and riparian vegetation and in warm temperate rainforests. It can grow in full sun if there is enough moisture and has also been found growing along roadsides, in gardens, disturbed sites and waste areas.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Blue periwinkle during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

Blue periwinkle expands by means of creeping stems that take root at the nodes and tips. New infestations can establish from plant fragments when broken off and transported by dumping of garden waste, soil movement or floods. It spreads from gardens, roadsides, nature strips, firebreaks, fence lines and neglected rubbish dumps into the bush and along waterways. Periwinkle is commonly available as a garden plant, readily propagated from cuttings and popular as a ground cover. It tends to overrun garden beds and the excess runners are thrown out in garden waste. Vegetative reproduction is most common, but in some situations periwinkle may produce viable seed. In Australia this occurs in riparian rainforest in East Gippsland where numerous seedlings may emerge after mats have been removed.

References

CRC for Australian Weed Management (2008). Weed Management Guide: Periwinkle (Vinca major). Retrieved 14 July 2025 from: https://archive.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/347156/periwinkle-weed-management-guide.pdf

Identic Pty Ltd. and Lucid (2016). Environmental Weeds of Australia Fact sheet Periwinkle (Vinca major). Retrieved 14 July 2025 from: https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/vinca_major.htm

McBarron, E.J. (1983). Poisonous Plants: Handbook for Farmers and Graziers. Department of Agriculture NSW.

Muyt, A. (2001). Bush invaders of South-East Australia: a guide to the identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East Australia. RG and FJ Richardson.

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 14 July 2025 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Vinca~major

More information

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Control

Established infestations of blue periwinkle in native vegetation are difficult to remove because:

• they have a dense network of runners above ground that can become entwined with native understorey plants
• the root system is tough and matted
• plants reproduce vegetatively from root and stem fragments and crowns
• uptake of herbicide by mature leaves may be reduced due to the waxy cuticle 
• they often grow in fragile riparian environments
• plants are tolerant of shade and may thrive under a native tree canopy. 

Physical and chemical control measures may be combined to remove patches of periwinkle effectively. Minimise adverse impacts on native vegetation and waterways and encourage recovery. This might require planting native plants in previously infested sites. All treatment needs to be followed up.

Physical removal

By hand

Dig out small patches and remove all plant pieces. In larger patches, start at the edge of the infestation and work towards the centre. Fold the runners inwards towards the centre as work progresses.

Plastic cover

In sunny areas, cover small patches with black plastic in summer. Keep the infestation covered for up to one year. Dig out the roots and remove the runners after the plastic is removed.

Disposal

After physical removal, no plant parts should be left in contact with the soil. If this material cannot be removed from the site, it needs to be bagged until completely dead.

Contact your local council for disposal advice.

Chemical control

Spraying

Spray actively growing plants. Cover all of the foliage. Do not spray during dry weather or cold conditions.

Leaf wiping

This method is useful in areas where the blue periwinkle is close to native plants.

Splatter gun

Splatter guns can be used for dense infestations that are difficult to reach. The specialised nozzle produces large droplets. This allows plants up to 10 m away to be sprayed with limited chance of spray drift. Spray small amounts of concentrated herbicide on the weeds, taking care not to spray the leaves of native or other desirable plants.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 500 mL to 1 L per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 300 to 600 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 200 mL per 10 L of water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut, scrape and paint
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 20 parts water
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 - 20 g per 100 L water plus non-ionic surfactant at a rate of 100 mL per 100 L.
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Hunter	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2025