The Difference Between Rosy and Madagascar Periwinkle

Name

• The Madagascar periwinkle’s genus name, Catharanthus, is Greek for “clean or pure flower.” The species name, roseus, is a bit more obvious, as it is Latin for “rose-colored.” However, adding confusion to the issue is the fact that Madagascar periwinkle used to go by the scientific name Vinca rosea, hence another common name, rosy periwinkle. A third common name is annual vinca, even though it bears no relation to the actual vincas (Vinca spp.).

History

• Madagascar periwinkle is a widely cultivated plant. As the name suggests, it is native to Madagascar, an island country off the eastern coast of Africa, as well as to some parts of India. Because of its historic use as a medicine plant, however, it escaped its origin and naturalized throughout the tropics. It has been grown in the United States since the 1800s, and has been bred into prize-winning cultivars such as “Pretty in Pink,” “Pretty in Rose” and “Parasol.”

Identification

• Usually cultivated as an annual flower, Madagascar periwinkle can also be grown as an herbaceous perennial in USDA zones 10 and 11. Its dark green, glossy leaves and rosy pink or red flowers have darker pink or red centers and bloom prolifically during the growing season. Do not confuse Madagascar periwinkle or annual vinca with the actual vincas: greater periwinkle (Vinca major), hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, and lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor), hardy to USDA zones 4 through 8.

Culture and Uses

• Madagascar periwinkle is a tolerant plant, requiring little maintenance. It prefers full sun or partial shade and grows best in well-drained sandy loams. Although it likes regular moisture, it prefers dry leaves, so do not water from overhead. Outside its hardiness range, you can grow it as an annual and take cuttings to overwinter indoors. Due to its low-growing habit -- mounding and spreading to between 6 and 18 inches -- the Madagascar periwinkle makes a good groundcover, border, edging plant or container plant. Some cultivars also do well as houseplants.