Madagascar periwinkle
Catharanthus roseus
Also called Annual vinca, Bedding vinca and Rose periwinkle
Garden plant · BeddingIt will not start until the nights are properly warm, and planted out in a cold May it just sits there. Wait for June and it does the whole summer without asking for anything.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 4 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun, and it wants heat
- Feed
- Once a fortnight
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out for the summer RHS H1C, to 5°C
- Size
- 0.4 m tall · 0.35 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Madagascar
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: vomiting, diarrhoea, low blood pressure, lethargy, tremors, seizures, coma and death.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-08-03.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.