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Catharanthus roseus

Previously known as:

  • Vinca rosea
  • Vinca roseus
Phonetic Spelling
kath-ah-RAN-thus RO-zee-us
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Madagascar periwinkle is an evergreen, erect-to-spreading, herbaceous, tender perennial that grows to 4 feet tall. It is frequently planted as an annual, as it is not cold-hardy. 

Plant it in full sun to partial or dappled shade in moist, well-drained soil. While it prefers acidic soil, it tolerates a range of soil types, so as long as it has good drainage. Seeds can be sown in March, in warm temperatures, and planted outside in early June. It does not need pinching or deadheading.  

Flowers have a slender tube and five spreading lobes that are rose-pink, white, or white with a reddish eye. It blooms all summer from July through September, only stopping at frost. This plant blooms even during heat stress. It is resistant to deer and rabbits. 

It is utilized as a ground cover in beds and for bedding and borders in drought-tolerant gardens, butterfly gardens, and recreational play areas. It may also be grown in a container.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Salverform flowers with five glandular dots on upper corolla tube
  • Twin elongated fruits from one calyx
  • Glossy foliage borne in pairs on stem

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:

Clemson University provides a fact sheet to help you Identify and manage diseases with Vinca. Some cultivars have shown good resistance to phytophthora root rot, stem rot, or aerial blight while others have shown a fair amount of resistance to phytophthora and leaf spot. (where fair is defined as less than half of the studied plants dying of the diseases). See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Collector’s Garden Japanese Shade Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Apricot Cooler Improved'
  • 'Aztec Pink Magic'
  • 'Blue Pearl'
  • 'Cascade Beauty White'
  • 'Cooler Icy Pink'
  • 'Cooler Orchid'
  • 'Cooler Peppermint'
  • 'Cora Apricot'
    Shows good resistance to phytophthora root rot, stem rot, or aerial blight.
  • 'Cora Burgundy'
  • 'Cora Cascade Cherry'
  • 'Cora Cascade Lilac'
    Fair resistance to phytophthora and leaf spot.
  • 'Cora Cascade Strawberry'
    Shows good resistance to phytophthora root rot, stem rot, or aerial blight and fair resistance to leaf spot.
  • 'Cora Red'
  • 'Experimental Dee'
  • 'Jams and Jellies'
  • 'Mediterranean Lilac'
  • 'Mediterranean XP Cherry Halo'
  • 'Mediterranean XP Rose Halo'
  • 'Nirvana Pink Blush'
  • 'Nirvana Red'
  • 'Nirvana Sky Blue'
  • 'Nirvana Violet'
  • 'Pacifica White'
  • 'Sunshower Lilac'
  • 'Titian Icy Pink'
'Apricot Cooler Improved', 'Aztec Pink Magic', 'Blue Pearl', 'Cascade Beauty White', 'Cooler Icy Pink', 'Cooler Orchid', 'Cooler Peppermint', 'Cora Apricot', 'Cora Burgundy', 'Cora Cascade Cherry', 'Cora Cascade Lilac', 'Cora Cascade Strawberry', 'Cora Red', 'Experimental Dee', 'Jams and Jellies', 'Mediterranean Lilac', 'Mediterranean XP Cherry Halo', 'Mediterranean XP Rose Halo', 'Nirvana Pink Blush', 'Nirvana Red', 'Nirvana Sky Blue', 'Nirvana Violet', 'Pacifica White', 'Sunshower Lilac', 'Titian Icy Pink'
Tags:
#purple#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#salmon#white flowers#pink flowers#tough plant#fall interest#rabbit resistant#herbaceous#spreading#summer flowers#deer resistant#groundcover#border planting#self-seeding#spring interest#pollinator plant#fantz#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#wilson mg plant sale 2021#container plant#perennial#annual#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Apricot Cooler Improved'
  • 'Aztec Pink Magic'
  • 'Blue Pearl'
  • 'Cascade Beauty White'
  • 'Cooler Icy Pink'
  • 'Cooler Orchid'
  • 'Cooler Peppermint'
  • 'Cora Apricot'
    Shows good resistance to phytophthora root rot, stem rot, or aerial blight.
  • 'Cora Burgundy'
  • 'Cora Cascade Cherry'
  • 'Cora Cascade Lilac'
    Fair resistance to phytophthora and leaf spot.
  • 'Cora Cascade Strawberry'
    Shows good resistance to phytophthora root rot, stem rot, or aerial blight and fair resistance to leaf spot.
  • 'Cora Red'
  • 'Experimental Dee'
  • 'Jams and Jellies'
  • 'Mediterranean Lilac'
  • 'Mediterranean XP Cherry Halo'
  • 'Mediterranean XP Rose Halo'
  • 'Nirvana Pink Blush'
  • 'Nirvana Red'
  • 'Nirvana Sky Blue'
  • 'Nirvana Violet'
  • 'Pacifica White'
  • 'Sunshower Lilac'
  • 'Titian Icy Pink'
'Apricot Cooler Improved', 'Aztec Pink Magic', 'Blue Pearl', 'Cascade Beauty White', 'Cooler Icy Pink', 'Cooler Orchid', 'Cooler Peppermint', 'Cora Apricot', 'Cora Burgundy', 'Cora Cascade Cherry', 'Cora Cascade Lilac', 'Cora Cascade Strawberry', 'Cora Red', 'Experimental Dee', 'Jams and Jellies', 'Mediterranean Lilac', 'Mediterranean XP Cherry Halo', 'Mediterranean XP Rose Halo', 'Nirvana Pink Blush', 'Nirvana Red', 'Nirvana Sky Blue', 'Nirvana Violet', 'Pacifica White', 'Sunshower Lilac', 'Titian Icy Pink'
Tags:
#purple#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#salmon#white flowers#pink flowers#tough plant#fall interest#rabbit resistant#herbaceous#spreading#summer flowers#deer resistant#groundcover#border planting#self-seeding#spring interest#pollinator plant#fantz#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#wilson mg plant sale 2021#container plant#perennial#annual#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Catharanthus
    Species:
    roseus
    Family:
    Apocynaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Chemical compounds in this plant led to a breakthrough in the treatment of modern-day cancer patients.
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Madagascar
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Moderate to high drought tolerance. Seldom damaged by deer. Some cultivars show good resistance to phytophthora.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Poisonous
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Follicle
    Fruit Description:
    fruits long, slender, often paired. Elongate follicles within one persisting calyx.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Axillary, solitary, rosy-pink to mauve to reddish, or white. The calyx is green, tube slender, lobes subulate. Corolla is salverform, bearing 5 glands apically on the tube, lobes often with prominent eyespot at the throat. The ovary is two-chambered, splitting apart in fruit. It blooms from June until frost.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Spatulate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves opposite, simple, smooth-margined. Oblong to elliptic-oblong to oblong-spatulate, glabrous, glossy with a pale midrib.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Erect to decumbent, upturned apically; lateral branches ascending.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Recreational Play Area
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, hallucinations, depression, tremors, seizures, coma, death
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Vinca Alkaloids
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Seeds
    Stems