Apocynaceae: the Periwinkle Family
The Greater Periwinkle has larger flowers and "rounder" leaves - if you use a hand lens you will see hairs around the edge of the leaf. Both Periwinkles remind me of the paper windmills we played with as children.
Epsom & Ewell Flower Finder
Apocynaceae: the Periwinkle Family
An introduction that is now native, rambling along hedgerows and escaping from churchyards. It provides cover for ground nesting birds and early nectar for bees. The paint pigment Periwinkle Blue, a cocktail of Ultramarine Violet and Titanium Dioxide, is named after this striking flower. THIS PLANT IS TOXIC IN LARGE QUANTITIES.
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Apocynaceae
Lesser Periwinkle, Common Periwinkle
Evergreen. Hairless leaves and spreading stems. Plant 0.2 metres high.
About
Highly attractive flowers, popular with bees foraging in early spring. It is happy in woodland shade and valuable wildlife cover, although invasive.
I found the Lesser Periwinkle (smaller leaves than the Greater Periwinkle, left) in the parish churchyard in Cuddington, Surrey and along local hedgerows.
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SURREY'S WILDFLOWERING PROJECT is a community-led initiative, aiming to build a partnership that enables wildflowering in the county as well as promoting and celebrating the boroughs/districts diverse environments. Do take the time to find out more about the project and if you can get involved, even in a small way, you will make a difference.
THE SCC BLUE CAMPAIGN© The Epsom & Ewell Flower Finder. I'm out and about but you can get in touch via Cuddington Online Facebook 