Vinca major is a trailing vine, spreading along the ground and rooting along the stems to form dense masses of groundcover individually 2â"5 m across and scrambling up to 50â"70 cm high. The leaves are opposite, nearly orbicular at the base of the stems and lanceolate at the apex, 3â"9 cm long and 2â"6 cm broad, glossy dark green with a leathery texture and an entire but distinctly ciliate margin, and a hairy petiole 1â"2 cm long. The flowers are hermaphrodite, axillary and solitary, violet-purple, 3â"5 cm diameter, with a five-lobed corolla. The calyx surrounding the base of the flower is 10â"17 millimetres (0.39â"0.67 in) long with hairy margins. The flowering period extends from early spring to autumn.