What plant / weed is this?

[Beebo]

Please can someone tell me what weed this is. I think it’s spread freely m next door.
And more importantly how do I get rid of it. It seems impervious to anything I try. It also has underground branches, so you pull up one clump and two clumps reappear.
It does have a few nice purple flowers.

 

[DCLane]

Looks to be the death-defying-killer-weed, or alternatively known as a Periwinkle - https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinca

And how to remove it: https://cvc.ca/the-garden-post/removing-invasive-periwinkle/#:~:text=How: Use a shovel or,Disposal: Do not compost!

 

[AndyRM]

I'm sure someone will be along with a sensible reply, so I will warn you that is clearly a triffid and you should get out while you still can.

 

[DCLane]

I'm sure someone will be along with a sensible reply, so I will warn you that is clearly a triffid and you should get out while you still can.

Possibly this, just ignore my reply above.

Can I have your bikes if the triffid eats you?

 

[numbnuts]

I'm sure someone will be along with a sensible reply, so I will warn you that is clearly a triffid and you should get out while you still can.

OMG get salt water I know what I'm talking about I saw the film

 

[cougie uk]

Google lens agrees it's a periwinkle.

 

[Beebo]

Thanks.
I now have some sort of understanding of the enemy Im up against.
I think a triffid would be easier to handle.

 

[AndyRM]

Thanks.
I now have some sort of understanding of the enemy Im up against.
I think a triffid would be easier to handle.

Good luck!

Thinking about it, I did recognise it as it was in an old yard of mine.

An absolute nightmare to get rid of, I employed a very environmentally unsound approach using a mixture of chemicals and diesel in the end.

It's a miracle I didn't blow myself up to be honest.

 

[Gillstay]

Yep. Vinca major as others have said. Just keep trimming it till it exhausts itself if your not into some serious dedicated digging out.

Or cover with black plastic till shaded out.

No reason why you cannot compost it unless your lousy at composting.

Don't use chemicals if you can as it ends up in our drinking water.

 

[Time Waster]

Our garden was full of it. For something after we pulled a lot up and put it in the green waste bin it's not really come back so much. Think at this rate we'll be rid of it in 10 years!

 

[Time Waster]

Vinca major or minor? I think there are two types with slightly different levels of persistence.

 

[Gillstay]

Vinca major or minor? I think there are two types with slightly different levels of persistence.

Major has the bigger leaf as in the photo if my memory serves me well.

 

[annedonnelly]

The flowers are pretty. However the one I had here never flowered. Just keep cutting it back or cover with black plastic. Most plants can't survive without photosynthesis.

 

[Ian H]

It makes good ground cover under shrubs.

 

[Reynard]

Periwinkles.

Lots of them in the hedgerows around here. I do love them, have to admit.