Madagascar periwinkle is an evergreen, tender, erect-to-spreading perennial in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). It is native to Madagascar but has naturalized in warm areas around the world. The species epithet means "pink." 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. Modern hybrids are bred for compact and well-branched habits and do not need pinching or deadheading. The plants are perennial in Zone 10 and higher but are treated as annuals in colder regions. Flowers have a slender tube and five spreading lobes that are rose-pink, white, or white with a contrasting 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. The flowers of modern hybrids are not as rich in nectar as the wild types. It is utilized as an annual 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 or hanging basket. Quick ID Hints : Salverform flowers, usually with a contrasting eye. Twin elongated fruits (paired follicles) from one calyx. Glossy leaves borne in pairs on the 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. Fair is defined as less than half of the studied plants dying of the diseases.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Foliage
Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves opposite, simple, smooth-margined. Oblong to elliptic-oblong to oblong-spatulate, glabrous, glossy with a pale midrib.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Axillary, solitary, rosy-pink to mauve to reddish, or white. The calyx is green, tube slender, lobes subulate. Corolla is salverform, often with prominent eyespot at the mouth of the tube. The ovary is two-chambered, splitting apart in fruit. It blooms from June until frost.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit detail
fruits long, slender, often paired. Elongate follicles within one persisting calyx.
Stem detail
Erect to decumbent, upturned apically; lateral branches ascending.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Madagascar
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Follicle
Uses (ethnobotany)
Chemical compounds in this plant led to a breakthrough in the treatment of certain kinds of leukemia.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Recreational Play Area; Small Space; Walkways
Southern Bacterial Wilt on Herbaceous Ornamental Plants; Phytophthora Blight and Root Rot on Annuals and Herbaceous Perennials; Black Root Rot on Ornamental Plants
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Dry Soil; Rabbits
Particularly resistant to
Moderate to high drought tolerance. Seldom damaged by deer. Some cultivars show good resistance to phytophthora.
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
Consuming large quantities of the plant can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, hallucinations, depression, tremors, seizures, coma, death