Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Madagascar
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
502
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical areas
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-158-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
11-7
Sunset Zone
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
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
25.40 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.20 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Pink, Peach
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Brown, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic and Ovate
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively, Needs less watering, Needs small amount of water
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, 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, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
aster yellow, Leaf spot, Red blotch, Root rot, Slugs, Snails, Stem rot
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Pollution, Salt
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Toxic if not prepared properly
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover, Hanging Basket, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Borders
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Diabetes, Hodgkin's lymphoma., Leukemia, Sore throat
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Flowering Tips, Leaves, stalk
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Traditional medicine, Use in Chinese herbology
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CATHARANTHUS roseus
ERYTHRINA herbacea
Common Name
Cooler Apricot Vinca, Madagascar Periwinkle, Vinca
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
In Hindi
Vinca
Red Cardinal
In German
Rosafarbene Catharanthe
Red Cardinal
In French
Pervenche de Madagascar
Cardinal rouge
In Spanish
Catharanthus roseus
Cárdenas
In Greek
Catharanthus roseus
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
In Portuguese
Catharanthus roseus
Cardeal vermelho
In Polish
Katarantus różowy
Red Cardinal
In Latin
Catharanthus roseus
Cardinalis Rubrum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Fabales
Family
Apocynaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Catharanthus
Erythrina
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Vicieae
Phaseoleae
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
Faboideae
Number of Species
810
1
27800
👆🏻