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Vinca

Annual Flower, Houseplant

Also known as Madagascar Periwinkle, Rose Periwinkle
Catharanthus roseus
Apocynaceae Family
Synonym: Vinca roseus, Vinca rosa

The source of an invaluable cancer treatment drug, Madagascar Periwinkle is also a garden hit with its glossy green foliage and dainty 5-petaled flowers in shades of pink and white. Good annual flower for part shade.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

full sun
part shade

Soil conditions:

tolerates droughty soil
tolerates low fertility

It prefers warm weather, and will tolerate heat and dryness.

Special locations:

outdoor containers
indoors as a houseplant - It can be brought indoors as a houseplant when cold weather approaches. Indoors, it should be grown in full sun and kept moist but not soggy.

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: annual

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1 to 2 feet

Spread: 1 to 2 feet

Bloom time:

mid-spring
late spring
early summer
mid-summer
late summer
early fall
mid-fall

Flower color:

violet
white
pink

Foliage color: dark green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: spreading mass

Shape in flower: same as above

Special Considerations

Tolerates:

heat

Special characteristics:

deer resistant
non-aggressive
non-invasive
not native to North America - Africa

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by seed, cuttings - Seeds should be sown indoors 3 to 4 months before the last frost, and should be covered with soil because light inhibits germination. Cuttings are best taken in the spring and early summer.

Germination temperature: 65 F to 75 F

Days to emergence: 14 to 21

Maintenance and care:

Pinch back the plants to keep bushy.
More growing information: How to Grow Annuals

Diseases:

Verticillium wilt

Varieties

�Mediterranean� Series: trailing plants are perfect for hanging baskets. 5 different flower color combinations.
�Apicot Delight�: dainty blooms are flushed with pinkish apricot near the red eyed center, fading to pure white near the margins.
�Terrace Vermilion�: 1� tall plants with striking red flowers with white eyed centers.
�Cooler� Series: 1� tall plants are dense and bushy, with 11 different flower colors and combinations.
�Heat wave� Series: 10� to 1� tall plans are basal branching and bushy, with early blooming flowers in 6 different color combinations.
�Tropicana� Series: 1� tall plants with early blooming flowers.
�Pacifica� Series: large (2� wide) blooms in 2 different flower color combinations.