Madagascar Periwinkle: an Easy to Grow Annual
Periwinkle Grows Easily in Difficult Garden Situations
Jun 4, 2009
Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), also known as rose periwinkle, is in the same family (Apocynaceae - dogbane family) with Vinca, and the flowers are similar, but they are not true vincas. Although, as its name implies, it is native to Madagascar. Madagascar periwinkle is sometimes mistakenly called native Florida vinca. True vincas are vines with blue flowers, used as ground covers.
Growing Periwinkles
Hardy from zones 9 to 11, the periwinkle has naturalized itself throughout most of the tropical and subtropical world. It enjoys frost free environments with poor but well drained soil. Rich soils inhibit flower production. Periwinkles tend to get leggy if left to their own devices. If you would like a fuller plant, you should start pinching the branches early in the season.
Periwinkles will grow and bloom in full sun or partial shade. It is extremely drought resistant when established. Periwinkle likes to be kept dry, and is not at all tolerant of overwatering, which causes problems in irrigated beds with rich soil.
Madagascar Periwinkle Flowers and Hybrids
Flowers of the species are usually rose pink, but can range in color from red to solid white. There are many hybrid Madagascar periwinkle cultivars available on the market. Some cultivars, such as "Morning Mist" and "Parasol" have larger flowers that are white with pink centers.
There are two quite notable series of hybrids of the periwinkle, including the Cooler series which features compact, low growing plants with overlapping, rounded flower petals in a variety of pastel colors. The Carpet series, also called trailing periwinkle, is a low growing, spreading cultivar that only reaches 3-4 inches in height, and spreads to 2 feet wide. It does very well in hanging baskets, and are excellent groundcovers for dry areas where you are finding it difficult to grow other flowering plants.
Propagation and Uses of Madagascar Periwinkles
Periwinkles are usually grown from seed, but can be propagated by rooting cuttings taken in spring or summer. It will self-seed in loose soil, and can become invasive if unwanted seedlings are not kept pulled. The volunteer seedlings transplant quite easily, although they may wilt for a day or two. The best time to transplant them is in the early evening.
Periwinkles are a wonderful groundcover, due to their dark, glossy leaves and long bloom period. Periwinkles are much more heat tolerant than their cousins, the true vincas. Although periwinkle leaves may curl in the heat, they unfurl themselves as soon as the temperatures drop or the dew falls on the plants.
If you're looking for a heat tolerant, easy to grow plant for your summer garden, you can't beat Madagascar periwinkle. It is inexpensive and since it doesn't need much fertilizer or maintenance, it is economical as well. Periwinkles are available at all garden centers and major retail stores.
