SCIENTIFIC NAME: Catharanthus roseus

COMMON NAME: Annual vinca

FAMILY: Apocynaceae

TYPE: annual

LEAVES: opposite, oblong, 1"-3", mucronate at tip, narrowing at base, glossy dark green

FLOWER: 1 1/2" across on a 1" slender corolla tube; rose-pink, white, red, or lavender

SEASON OF BLOOM: summer to fall

GROWTH HABIT: 6" to 36", prostrate or upright

SOIL: well drained essential; drought tolerant

SUN: full sun essential, very heat and drought tolerant and pollution tolerant

UTILIZATION: bedding, borders, groundcover, raised containers; excellent for hot and dry summers, use only in sun with well drained soil; do not plant before mid-May to early June to avoid disease problems--is very heat tolerant but not cold or over-water-tolerant. Important source of vincristine--for cancer research.

DISEASES: Phytophthora root rot and aerial leaf blight; do not replant in areas where vinca previously had disease problems; use a mulch to prevent water from splashing soil on plants

INSECTS AND RELATED PESTS: none serious

PROPAGATION: seed, stem cuttings

MAINTENANCE: low

CULTIVARS: Pacifica and Cooler are good performing series