About
Catharanthus roseus is a woody perennial that remains evergreen, reaching heights of up to 45 cm. It features thick, fleshy stems and ovate leaves. The plant produces 5-petalled flowers that can measure up to 4 cm in diameter, displaying shades of pink, red, or white.
About the genus
Catharanthus species can be either annuals or perennials, characterized by their simple, opposite leaves and flowers that are either solitary or grouped, each featuring five petals at the ends of the branches.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Bedding, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Mediterranean climate plants, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants
- Native to
- Madagascar
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost with full light and good ventilation. When in growth water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter. Can be grown outdoors as summer bedding in most moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soils
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown in early spring at 13 to 18°C, or by softwood cuttings in late spring or semi-hardwood cuttings in summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free