About
Catharanthus roseus (Albus Group) 'Pretty in Pink' is a frost-sensitive, sprawling herbaceous perennial or sub-shrub that reaches heights between 30 and 100 cm. Its dark green, leathery leaves are arranged in pairs opposite each other along the stems. The flowers feature five petals and display a vibrant magenta pink hue. When cut, the stems release a white latex, which is highly toxic, similar to many other members of the Apocynaceae family.
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, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Sub-tropical
- Toxicity
- All parts of the plants are highly toxic, including the sap. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Of easy cultivation, requiring a well drained, but moisture retentive soil in full sun or partial shade. Prefers growing temperatures around 25C with high humidity
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed in containers at 22-25C and kept in the dark until germination, or from semi-ripe tip cuttings in summer and autumn and inserted into a light well drained compost,
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite under glass
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to phytophthora root rot in poorly drained soils