Pink or white flowers, each with a small hole at the centre, open above smooth-edged leaves on a bush barely knee-high. Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is one of the simplest plants for carpeting a flower bed, even on very sandy soil — give it full sun and warmth above 68°F (20°C) and it flowers for months.
| Name | Catharanthus roseus |
|---|---|
| Family | Apocynceae or dogbane |
| Type | bush |
| Height | 10 to 20 in (0.25 to 0.5 m) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | well-drained |
| Foliage | evergreen (in warm climates) |
| Flowering | late spring to late autumn |
It will provide you with very cute blooming in summer. Formerly, the plant went by the names Alcea rosea and Vinca rosea. This is why the name “Vinca” pops up quite often.
The Madagascar periwinkle is native to the island of Madagascar which has a tropical climate.
But it’s also possible to grow Madagascar periwinkle as an annual from May to October without any problems at all.
To grow Madagascar periwinkle in a pot, it is advised to re-pot every 1 or 2 years, preferably in spring.
The pot provided upon purchase will quickly become too small: re-pot your Madagascar periwinkle as soon as its blooming is over.
Increasingly, Madagascar periwinkle is available as seeds.
It’s easy to sow the seeds:
If there are many slugs or snails, wait for the plants to have at least 4 pairs of leaves before thinning or transplanting.
Madagascar periwinkle can be treated as a permanent bush in the warm, as a one-season bedding plant, or as a pot plant brought indoors. The table sets out what each approach asks of you.
| Approach | Position | When to start | Water and upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanently in the ground (warm climates only) | Very sunny spot, garden soil improved with soil mix | Plant in spring | Water only if it shows signs of dehydration |
| Outdoors as an annual | Very sunny bed | Plant in spring, pull out after the first frosts | Little water; it resists arid conditions quite well |
| Sown from seed | Two or three seeds per shallow hole, spaced 1 ft (30 cm) | Spring | Cover with 1/4 in (0.5 cm) of soil, then thin to one seedling |
| In a pot, indoors | Very well-lit, but shaded from direct sun behind glass | Re-pot every 1 or 2 years in spring | Regular but moderate; stand on a tray of wet clay pebbles |
Whichever route you take, full light and warmth matter more than watering.
If you’re growing your Madagascar periwinkle outdoors like an annual, simply pull the plant out once the first frost spells have hit. It wouldn’t survive the winter anyways.
If growing a Madagascar periwinkle indoors, in pots, you’ll have to prune it on a regular basis. Doing this helps increase blooming and controls its growth.
To boost flower-bearing, remove Madagascar periwinkle wilted flowers regularly (deadheading).
Madagascar periwinkle is typically grown as an annual plant in temperate climates. It isn’t a hardy flower.
Choose a very well-lit space for your Madagascar periwinkle, but not in direct sunlight behind a window.
Water regularly but not too much, to avoid suffocating roots.
Finally, bring your shrub outdoors from May to October to give it fresh air.
When in a pot, Madagascar periwinkle needs a lot of moisture. It loves resting over a tray of wet clay marbles or gravel. Indeed, this recreates its natural environment.
Madagascar periwinkle after flowering
The usual blooming season for Madagascar periwinkle extends from May to October.
Madagascar periwinkle leaves turn yellow most often when they were exposed to the cold or to lack of water.
If a cottony white substance starts covering the leaves of your Madagascar periwinkle, it means a scale insect colony has appeared.
Madagascar periwinkle can also be colonized by mites and ticks such as red spider mites.
In the wild, only two colors exist: white and pink. Today, through cultivation and breeding, many new colors exist: red, peach, apricot…
Trailing series such as Cora Cascade and Mediterranean spread sideways rather than up, which makes them the ones to pick for hanging baskets and window boxes.
Upright series like Pacifica and Titan hold their large flowers at a single height, so they keep a bedding scheme tidy.
If your soil stays damp, look for varieties bred to resist Phytophthora blight, the rot that collapses stems from the top down.
This is a very simple plant to care for. It is perfect to cover flower beds. Excellent for very sandy soil.
There is no need to remove dead flowers, they will simply fall off and quickly give rise to more!
This flower has been bred and cultivated for almost a hundred years. In the wild, only two colors can be found: purple-pink and white. In the 1920s, horticulturists started identifying promising Madagascar periwinkle varieties both tall and short.
Initially, breeders tried to expand the range of colors. Today, newer varieties are better at resisting disease, drought, cold and heat… thus generating savings for landscapers and hassle for owners!
Roots of this ornamental flower contain alkaloids. Research is ongoing that shows these compounds effective in treating cancer!
Madagascar periwinkle is different from common periwinkle, which has the scientific name “Vinca”.
Also, this plant is similar to Impatiens (and to sunpatiens). To tell them apart, look at the center of the flower and the rim of leaves.
Adding organic flower plant fertilizer will enhance its bloom.
