About
Catharanthus roseus (Albus Group) 'Albus' is a perennial plant that retains its foliage year-round, reaching a height of up to 45 cm. It features elongated, light green leaves and produces white flowers with five petals, each measuring approximately 4 cm in diameter.
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
- 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
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, Mediterranean climate plants
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 and semi-hardwood cuttings in summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free