Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Tender Perennial
  
Origin
Caribbean
  
Madagascar
  
Types
Not Available
  
Purple vinca, Vinca, cherry red, strawberry color
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Islands, subtropical regions
  
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-13
  
9-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
  
12-1
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
  
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Salmon
  
Pink, Magenta, Rose
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate
  
Oval
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
  
Pollution, Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering
  
Keep ground moist, Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune ocassionally
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects
  
Botrytis Blight, Canker, Crown rot, Pythium rot, Root rot
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Butterflies
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Intestinal gas, Nausea, Vomiting
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Purgative, Syphilis
  
Chest pain, High blood pressure, Inflammation, Sore throat, Tooth ache, Wounds
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Latex
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Not Available
  
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
EUPHORBIA punicea
  
CATHARANTHUS roseus
  
Common Name
Jamaican poinsettia, Flame of Jamaica, Vegetable-leather, Flame-of-Jamaica, Scarlet-flowered spurge, Crimson Euphorbia, West Indian spurge
  
Madagascar Periwinkle, Periwinkle, Vinca
  
In Hindi
Jamaican poinsettia
  
Vinca
  
In German
Jamaican poinsettia
  
Vinca
  
In French
Euphorbe cramoise
  
Vinca
  
In Spanish
Poinsetia de Jamaica, Flor de pascua del caribe
  
Vinca
  
In Greek
Jamaican poinsettia
  
Vinca
  
In Portuguese
Jamaican poinsettia
  
Vinca
  
In Polish
Jamaican poinsettia
  
Vinca
  
In Latin
Jamaican poinsettia
  
Galium
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Malpighiales
  
Gentianales
  
Family
Euphorbiaceae
  
Apocynaceae
  
Genus
Euphorbia
  
Catharanthus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Euphorbieae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available