Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Broadleaf Evergreen, Vines
  
Origin
Madagascar
  
India, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Southern Asia
  
Types
Purple vinca, Vinca, cherry red, strawberry color
  
Red pepper, Orange pepper
  
Habitat
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
  
Moist Soils, orchards, Temperate Regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
  
8-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
12 - 1
  
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, H2, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Pink, Magenta, Rose
  
Lemon yellow
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Red, Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval
  
Circular cordate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
  
Do Not over Water, Sprinkle water over foliage, Water every two or three days during warmer months
  
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
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune ocassionally
  
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Remove dead branches, Trim each shoot back to the first set of leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
10-10-10 diluted liquid fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Do not let fertilizers touch the leaves
  
Pests and Diseases
Botrytis Blight, Canker, Crown rot, Pythium rot, Root rot
  
Aphids, Beetles, Root rot, Rust, Scab
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Not Available
  
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
  
Yes
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Aphids, Leafminer, Snails, Squirrels
  
Allergy
Intestinal gas, Nausea, Vomiting
  
Oral Allergy
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Decorating walls
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Acne, Blackheads
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Fixes Nitrogen, Insect Repellent
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Chest pain, High blood pressure, Inflammation, Sore throat, Tooth ache, Wounds
  
Acid Reflux, Dysentry, Healthy teeth, Inflammation, Oral health
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Dried seeds
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used in herbal medicines
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
CATHARANTHUS roseus
  
Piper nigrum
  
Common Name
Madagascar Periwinkle, Periwinkle, Vinca
  
Peppercorn, Piper, Black pepper
  
In Hindi
Vinca
  
काली मिर्च
  
In German
Vinca
  
Pfeffer
  
In French
Vinca
  
Piper nigrum
  
In Spanish
Vinca
  
Poivrier noir
  
In Greek
Vinca
  
μαύρο πιπέρι
  
In Portuguese
Vinca
  
Pimenta-preta
  
In Polish
Vinca
  
Pieprz czarny
  
In Latin
Galium
  
nigrum piperis
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Gentianales
  
Piperales
  
Family
Apocynaceae
  
Piperaceae
  
Genus
Catharanthus
  
Piper
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available