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Herbaceous Perennial

Catharanthus roseus (Albus Group) 'Pretty in Pink'

Madagascar periwinkle 'Pretty in Pink'

A frost tender, sprawling, herbaceous perennial or sub-shrub growing from 30-100cm in height. The dark green leathery leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The attractive five petalled flowers are a deep magenta pink. Cut stems exude a white latex, which like many other plants in the Apocynaceae family, is highly toxic

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1C

Botanical details

Family: Apocynaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: All parts of the plants are highly toxic, including the sap. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling
Genus: Catharanthus can be annuals or perennials with simple, paired leaves and solitary or clustered, 5-petalled flowers at the branch tips
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

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

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,

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Sub-tropical

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite under glass

Diseases

May be susceptible to phytophthora root rot in poorly drained soils

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