Help ID Please, Purple flower growing in hedge, N. Ireland

Hi Everyone

I'm feeling guilty posting these ID threads. I have an RHS book on plants but dang, I need something that lets me pick a colour, number of petals etc and then lets me decide from there, books are not good for that generally and I don't know of any decent websites. So, apologies for my ID requests on here! I really appreciate all your help.

I took this picture in April this year, it was in a hedge in a garden in Ireland. Not sure if it was a flower that got out of hand, but more like it was part of the hedge itself. Any ideas what it might be?

TIA for any suggestions :)

Clarke
www.4eyesphoto.co.uk

 

Vinca major?

 

Wow, that was quick! And I think you hit the nail on the head ;) Many thanks for the fast reply :)

Clarke

 

yup, that's vinca.

 

To check between Vinca major (Greater Periwinkle) and Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle), look at a leaf under a magnifying glass:
Leaf margin hairy: Vinca major.
Leaf margin hairless: Vinca minor.

 

Around here, it's easy to identify. If it survives the winter, it's V. minor.

 

That's informative Michael F!

 

And down here it is a rotton weed that just takes off. Looks like another mild mannered botanical gets a new lease of life downunder. I still can't get over how tiny Ragwort was when I saw it in England. Here it grows into 4 foot giants and takes over whole paddocks and in the case of Tasmania I think the state.

Liz