Vinca, Annual (Catharanthus roseus)

Vinca, Annual Plant Features

The clear crisp flowers and glossy green leaves of annual vinca are so perfect you may be tempted to rub them to see if they are real. Annual vinca, occasionally called periwinkle, is not related to the perennial ground cover with the same common name. In fact, annual vinca is native to Madagascar and is prized for its nonstop flower show from early summer till fall. Annual vinca is drought tolerant and requires almost no maintenance to keep it looking terrific. Use it en masse in beds and borders or tuck it into mixed containers with other annual flowers. Annual vinca grows 12 to 18 inches tall and comes in pink, purple, red, white, magenta, and bi-colors. The flowers are also attractive to butterflies. Hardy in zone 10.

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Learn more about picking the best vinca varieties for your yard.

Vinca, Annual Growing Instructions

Plant annual vinca in a sunny location with well-drained soil. If you are growing annual vinca in containers use a commercial potting mix. Don't pot vinca in regular garden soil because it doesn't drain well and can cause rot issues. Annual vinca is drought tolerant but does best if you water the plants whenever the top inch or so of the soil feels dry to the touch. Take care not to overwater this plant; it's easily susceptible to root rot.

Keep potted vinca blooming well by fertilizing regularly with any general-purpose garden fertilizer. Be sure to follow the directions on the product packaging. If you have good or average soil, you typically don't need to fertilize vinca growing in gardens and landscapes.

Annual vinca doesn't require deadheading, or the removal of faded flowers, to continue blooming, making it a wonderfully low-maintenance annual flower for sun. Some older types of vinca can self seed in the garden, especially in subtropical areas. It can be invasive in certain areas; check local restrictions before planting it.

Annual vinca is not recommended for human or animal consumption.

Water

Medium water needs
Light

Outside: Sun
Colors

Pink

Purple

Red

White
Special Features

Attracts butterflies

Colorful foliage

Deer/rabbit resistant

Complement your Vinca, Annual

Angelonia
Pair Angelonia and Annual Vinca in the same container.

Verbena
Verbena and Annual Vinca are a pretty combination in pots and planters.

Geranium, Annual
Geranium and Annual Vinca look terrific together.

Our favorite varieties

Cora Apricot Vinca

Catharanthus 'Cora Apricot'

Moist, humid weather won’t stop ‘Cora Apricot’ annual vinca from performing in your garden. This rugged variety shows off pretty apricot flowers with red centers that hold their color even when temperatures soar. ‘Cora Apricot’ grows 14-16 inches tall and thrives in full sun.

Cora Cascade Magenta Vinca

Catharanthus ‘Cora Cascade Magenta’

For hanging baskets or large containers you can’t go wrong with ‘Cora Cascade Magenta’ annual vinca. This trailing form grows only 6 to 8 inches tall, yet each plant can spread 2 to 3 feet wide. It’s disease and heat resistant and flowers nonstop all summer.

Cora Cascade Strawberry Vinca

Catharanthus 'Cora Cascade Strawberry'

Imagine a hanging basket overflowing with bright pink blooms all summer long. Well that’s what you’ll get when you grow ‘Cora Cascade Strawberry’ annual vinca. It’s a trailing, disease-resistant variety that can spread 2 to 3 feet in diameter.

Cora Red Vinca

Catharanthus 'Cora Red'

The stunning scarlet flowers of ‘Cora Red’ annual vinca have a white eye that gives the plant an extra dose of personality. ‘Cora Red’ is an upright variety that will grow 14-16 inches tall. It’s an easy-care sun worshipper that also grows fine in the shade.

Cora White Vinca

Catharanthus 'Cora White'

Cool off your garden with the icy-white flowers of ‘Cora White’ annual vinca. This vigorous bloomer forms drifts of snowy blooms all summer long. It’s resistant to shade, heat, humidity, drought and insect pests.

Soiree Double White Vinca

Catharanthus Soiree Double White

A standout in the vinca world, Soiree Double White features twice the usual number of petals, giving it a frilly, full look. It grows 15 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

Soiree Kawaii Pink Vinca

Catharanthus Soiree Kawaii Pink

Soiree Kawaii Pink has been a top variety in our Trial Garden! Though its intense pink flowers are small, there are many of them, practically smothering the plant in blooms all summer long. It grows 8 inches tall and 18 inches wide.

Soiree Kawaii Lavender Vinca

Catharanthus Soiree Kawaii Lavender

Soiree Kawaii Lavender vinca produces masses of small, lavender-pink flowers all summer long. Like other varieties, it holds up to heat and drought like a champ. This variety grows 10 inches tall and 18 inches wide.

Valiant Apricot Vinca

Catharanthus 'Valiant Apricot'

Valiant Apricot is a newer variety that shows off warm-pink flowers on large, vigorous plants that grow fast. It gets 20 inches tall and 15 inches wide, and blooms all summer, no matter how hot it gets.

Valiant Burgundy Vinca

Catharanthus 'Valiant Burgundy'

Valiant Burgundy vinca loves heat, tolerates drought, and grows fast to offer big color in your garden. The pinwheel-shaped blooms are a rich shade of burgundy pink. It grows 20 inches tall and 15 inches wide.

Valiant Orchid Vinca

Catharanthus 'Valiant Orchid'

A top performer in our Trial Gardens, Valiant orchid vinca bears beautiful lavender-blue flowers on vigorous, 20-inch-tall plants that grow 15 inches wide.

Valiant Lilac Vinca

Catharanthus 'Valiant Lilac'

A beefy, robust plant, Valiant Lilac vinca shows off lots of pretty lavender-pink flowers all summer long. It grows 24 inches tall and wide.

Soiree Kawaii Pink Peppermint Vinca

Catharanthus Soiree Kawaii Pink Peppermint

This easy-care variety shows off small light pink flowers that have a charming wildflower effect compared to other hybrids. It grows 10 inches tall and 18 inches wide.

Soiree Kawaii Coral Vinca

Catharanthus Soiree Kawaii Coral

Soiree Kawaii Coral vinca will be a delight in your garden. Showing off scores of tiny flowers, it adds a wildflower look and is a cinch to grow. It grows 8 inches tall and 18 inches wide.