Madagascar periwinkle

Sun

Full sun to light partial shade; afternoon shade can help in very hot inland gardens.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then let the soil surface dry between waterings. Established plants tolerate short dry spells; containers need more frequent checks.

Soil

Well-drained sandy or loamy soil; tolerates relatively poor soil but dislikes waterlogged ground.

Height

1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m); compact bedding varieties are usually shorter.

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring or early summer until frost; potentially year-round in frost-free tropical climates. Flowers are white, pink, rose, red or purple, often with a contrasting eye.

Foliage

Evergreen. Paired, glossy, oval, dark green leaves with a conspicuous pale midrib.

Growth

Fast in warm weather; slow in cool conditions.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   2 ft (0.6 m)

   full size

Full size in one season.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Invasive in

Australia

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant out only after frost risk has passed and the soil has warmed; do not rush planting during a cool spring.
• Water at soil level and allow the surface to dry before watering again.
• Use pots with drainage holes and a free-draining potting mix; empty standing water from saucers.
• Feed container plants lightly with a balanced fertiliser according to its label; avoid heavy feeding in garden beds.
• Keep mulch away from the stems and leave space between plants for air circulation.

Pruning. Pinch young shoots if plants need more branching, though many compact varieties branch freely without help. In frost-free gardens, lightly trim leggy growth in spring; routine deadheading is unnecessary.

Late winter

For an early start, sow seed indoors in warmth, roughly 10-12 weeks before your expected planting-out date.

Spring

Prepare freely draining beds or containers, but wait for reliably warm weather before planting.

Late spring

Harden off indoor-grown seedlings gradually and plant after frost risk has passed.

Summer

Check containers frequently, water when the surface dries, and feed lightly.

Autumn

Remove frost-killed plants and pull unwanted seedlings before they establish.

Winter

If keeping plants under cover, provide bright light, frost-free warmth and sparing water.

• Plant compact varieties in repeated groups along sunny paths for a low band of summer colour.
• Use in patio pots with angelonia and ornamental grasses for upright accents above rounded flowering plants.
• Combine with pentas and lantana in warm-climate borders for a long flowering season.
• Use trailing varieties at the edges of raised planters or hanging baskets where their stems can spill over.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern tropical, Modern courtyard, Luxury resort, Low-maintenance and Small-space.

Plant it with: Angelonia, Pentas, Lantana, Moss rose and Mealycup sage.

Wildlife: Flowers can attract butterflies and other nectar-feeding insects. It is not a substitute for locally native host plants needed by caterpillars.

• Phytophthora blight: sudden wilting, dark stem lesions and collapse are favoured by wet conditions. Remove affected plants, improve drainage and avoid overhead irrigation.
• Root rot: yellowing and wilting despite moist soil often follow overwatering. Let soil dry between waterings and replace persistently wet potting mix.
• Cool-weather decline: plants may yellow, stall or rot when planted too early. Wait for warm soil and protect plants from cold nights.
• Aphids or spider mites: inspect distorted shoots or stippled leaves, especially under cover. Rinse off small infestations and use insecticidal soap labelled for the pest if needed.

All parts contain toxic alkaloids and are poisonous if eaten by people, cats, dogs or horses. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and potentially serious systemic poisoning. Keep plants away from grazing animals and seek medical or veterinary advice promptly after suspected ingestion.

Where it spreads. Can self-seed readily in frost-free climates and is an environmental weed in parts of northern Australia, including Queensland and the Northern Territory. It is also naturalised in Hawaii and southern Florida. Avoid planting near bushland or other natural areas where it escapes, and remove unwanted seedlings.

• Lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor)

  Forms a low, creeping mat with stems that root along the ground, usually bearing blue-purple flowers in spring. Madagascar periwinkle is generally upright and flowers most strongly in warm weather.

• Greater periwinkle (Vinca major)

  Has long, sprawling, rooting stems and broader leaves with fine hairs along their margins. Madagascar periwinkle has smooth leaf margins and a conspicuous pale midrib.

• Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana)

  Has fleshy stems, toothed leaves and flowers with a rear spur. Madagascar periwinkle has smooth-edged, paired leaves and a narrow central flower tube without a spur.

Catharanthus comes from Greek words meaning 'pure flower', roseus means 'rose-coloured', and Madagascar periwinkle refers to its native island and resemblance to true periwinkles.

Propagation. Grow from seed sown under cover at about 21-26°C (70-79°F), covering lightly to exclude light during germination. Softwood cuttings also root in warmth. Seedlings from named varieties may differ from the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Catharanthus roseus

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Hawaii, the lower 48 states, Navassa Island, Pacific Basin, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

Native range

Madagascar.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.