What is this plant, 5 purple petals

Gavin.cullen

It seems invasive possibly 2 types. 1 is a climber / sprawls along the ground and has started going up into bushes. The other seems to just be about 30cm and has a flower or 2. Help identifying and control measure would be appreciated.

micearguers

Lesser periwinkle, vinca minor. I quite like it. Yank it out where you don't want it? Wholesale removal should not be too difficult I think.

Fairygirl

Vinca. It can be an opportunist thug, but if you pull it out soon enough, it can be kept in check.

It's really useful in awkward, shady sites where little else will grow. It's not so desirable among other precious plants though 

Gavin.cullen

Good to know it likes shady areas I have a north fence with mainly fern and heather could it be possible to drop some in here easy enough and let it Rome wild amongst that to and some colour. It does receive a bit of evening sun but not a lot.

BobTheGardener

I think that's Vinca major (Greater Periwinkle) rather than minor.  V. major is a bit more upright with larger flowers and leaves.  It will grow just fine in the conditions you mention.  Can be invasive when happy though.  I prefer v. minor which is a ground-cover and have some growing in almost complete shade.  The stray daffodil is a miniature one and only 6" tall, for size comparison:

Dovefromabove

I think that's Vinca major as @BobTheGardener says.  We have it in this garden in a shady area under the trees.  

I cut back most of the long exploratory stems before they take root and that keeps it under control ... sort of 

micearguers

Thanks @BobTheGardener and @Dovefromabove for pointing out the correct species. My mum told me to stay away from vinca major, so I mainly know vinca minor which is what I have in my garden. I have it in an area that becomes fairly dry shade in summer, so any thuggish tendencies are suppressed. It is a beautiful mingler for shade in the right aspect as in BtG's picture.

Fairygirl

I agree it's not the minor one - it's too 'hefty'.  

If you have wild rabbits - they keep it in check  too 

Silver surfer

Vinca major has hair leaf margins.


Vinca minor flower left. Vinca major flower on the right.



Below Vinca major...to show hairy margins.


Vinca major leaf top..Vinca minor leaf bottom.
Vinca major leaf below.

JennyJ

Interesting! I have the variegated Vinca major and I hadn't noticed hairy leaf margins. On closer inspection they are indeed slightly hairy. Every day's a schoolday