# Madagascar Periwinkle (*Catharanthus roseus*) The Madagascar Periwinkle is a pretty flower that comes in many colors like pink and white. It loves warm places and can often be found in gardens, bringing joy with its bright blooms. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Rose periwinkle ![Madagascar Periwinkle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2019-08-02_Catharanthus_roseus%252C_Ifaty%252C_Madagascar_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: imbeaul, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2019-08-02_Catharanthus_roseus%252C_Ifaty%252C_Madagascar_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Madagascar Periwinkle has glossy, dark green leaves and five-petaled flowers. Its blooms are typically vibrant pink, white, or purple, often featuring a contrasting 'eye' in the center, making it distinctly colorful. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Apocynaceae - **Genus:** Catharanthus ## Interesting facts - It can grow quickly, forming bright, colorful carpets on the ground. - Its name comes from Madagascar, its original island home! - Its super tough seeds survive harsh journeys to sprout later! - Scientists study its powerful chemicals for amazing discoveries! ## Special abilities - **Chemical Defender:** Madagascar Periwinkle produces powerful bitter chemicals that help it defend against hungry herbivores. - **Drought Dynamo:** Madagascar Periwinkle can thrive in dry, sandy soils and hot weather, helping it survive harsh conditions. - **Healing Herb Power:** Madagascar Periwinkle has unique compounds that help it fight off pests and diseases, keeping it strong. - **Everblooming Beauty:** In warm, sunny spots, this plant can bloom continuously, helping it attract pollinators year-round. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-100 cm - **Spread:** 20-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round in warm climates, summer to fall elsewhere - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Tobacco hornworm moth (*Manduca sexta*) — large moth attracted to its flowers - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — monarch butterflies visit its blooms - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — honey bees sometimes collect nectar ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always wash your hands after touching flowers, just to be safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Madagascar Periwinkle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Madagascar Periwinkle? 20-100 cm ### How wide does Madagascar Periwinkle spread? 20-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Madagascar Periwinkle? 2-5 cm ### When does Madagascar Periwinkle bloom? Year-round in warm climates, summer to fall elsewhere ### Is Madagascar Periwinkle edible? No ### Is Madagascar Periwinkle toxic? High ### What is Madagascar Periwinkle's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Wildwood Preserve Metropark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildwood-preserve-metropark) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve - [Deerfield Beach Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/deerfield-beach-arboretum) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Garvan Woodland Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garvan-woodland-gardens) — Arkansas, US · Botanical Garden - [Grove Hill Courthouse Square Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grove-hill-courthouse-square-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Limahuli Garden and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/limahuli-garden-and-preserve) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [McKee Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mckee-botanical-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Madagascar Periwinkle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/madagascar-periwinkle) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Madagascar Periwinkle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/madagascar-periwinkle)