Cape periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus, Gen. Hist. 4: 95 (1837))

Family: Apocynaceae

Author: (L.) G.Don

Bibliography: Gen. Hist. 4: 95 (1837)

Year: 1837

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Catharanthus

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: E. & S. Madagascar

Description

The Cape periwinkle, scientifically known as Catharanthus roseus, presents a fascinating origin story rooted in the landscapes of Eastern and Southern Madagascar. Catalogued in botanical literature as early as 1837 through the General History of Plants, it was first classified by G.Don, building upon the work of the initial taxonomist, L.

Belonging to the Apocynaceae family, this evergreen perennial has captured the interest of botanists and horticulturists alike, not just for its vibrant blooms but also for its medicinal properties. The Cape periwinkle is commonly recognized by its glossy, dark green leaves and delicate, five-petaled flowers which can range in color from a vivid pink to a pure white, sometimes featuring a contrasting eye at the center.

In the wild, Catharanthus roseus thrives in the mildly tropical and sub-tropical climates of Madagascar. This hardy plant has a remarkable ability to adapt, often flourishing even in poor soil conditions. Its resilience and ease of growth have led to its widespread cultivation in gardens around the world, where it’s celebrated not only for its ornamental beauty but also for its low-maintenance nature.

Moreover, this species holds significant value in the medical field. Researchers have discovered that the plant contains alkaloids such as vincristine and vinblastine, which are used in the treatment of various types of cancers. This has elevated the Cape periwinkle from a simple garden plant to a critical component in the pharmaceutical industry.

In summary, the Cape periwinkle is more than just an attractive addition to your garden. Its rich history, ability to thrive in diverse environments, and its contributions to medicine highlight the plant’s multifaceted significance. Whether admired for its visual appeal or its therapeutic benefits, Catharanthus roseus is undoubtedly a noteworthy subject within the botanical world.

Common Names

Eng: cape periwinkle, madagascar periwinkle, bright-eyes, graveyardplant, old-maid, old-maid-flower, pink periwinkle, rose periwinkle, rosy periwinkle, churchyard blossom, madalena blanco, old church blossom, old maids olleander, periwinkle, old maid, red periwinkle
Spa: chatas, chula, pervinca de madagascar
Por: maria-sem-vergonha
Fra: pervenche de madagascar
Swe: rosensköna
Khm: កំពីងពួយគោក ឬផ្កាតាំងយូ
En: Cape periwinkle, Madagascar periwinkle, Bright-eyes, Graveyardplant, Old-maid, Old-maid-flower, Pink periwinkle, Rose periwinkle, Rosy periwinkle, Churchyard Blossom, Madalena Blanco, Old Church Blossom, Old Maids Olleander, Periwinkle, Old maid, Red periwinkle
Fr: Pervenche de Madagascar, Caca poule, Rose amère
Km: កំពីងពួយគោក ឬផ្កាតាំងយូ
Pt: Maria-sem-vergonha
Es: Chatas, Chula, Pervinca de Madagascar
Sv: Rosensköna

Synonyms

• Ammocallis rosea ((L.) Small)
• Vinca speciosa (Salisb.)
• Lochnera rosea ((L.) Rchb. ex Spach)
• Pervinca rosea ((L.) Gaterau)
• Vinca rosea (L.)

Distribution

• Madagascar (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Aldabra (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Aruba (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Borneo (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Central American Pac (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• Djibouti (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• French Guiana (introduced)
• Gabon (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Ivory Coast (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kazan-retto (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Kermadec Is. (introduced)
• Kriti (introduced)
• Laccadive Is. (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Maldives (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Mozambique Channel I (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Phoenix Is. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• South China Sea (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Sumatera (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Wake I. (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jan 11, 2017 by Kelly Silva (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 15, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 27, 2021 by Mon Rodri (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 23, 2016 by Becky Millar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 22, 2019 by MANOJ MANOJ KUMAR MANDAL (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Apr 25, 2021 by Fernando da Luz Schmidt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 23, 2013 by R. Tournebize (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2021 by Ferraz Carlos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 7, 2021 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2017 by Jim Swanson (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 5, 2016 by Daniela Pérez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 21, 2021 by Thierry Firmin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 21, 2021 by Thierry Firmin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2021 by Anil Chandra (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 30, 2021 by Guy J (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Other

Taken Jul 23, 2016 by Krol AS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 29, 2016 by Michael Barnett (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 7, 2021 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 5, 2020 by Vázquez Yessica (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 22, 2021 by RICARDO JUNIOR ACUÑA REDONDO (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 11, 2019 by siviero sophia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2020 by Nabhane Siradjidine Mohamed (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 25, 2021 by Fernando da Luz Schmidt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 25, 2021 by Fernando da Luz Schmidt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 23, 2021 by Silvia (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 31, 2019 by Rodríguez Laura (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 25, 2020 by Tapiero Nestor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 6, 2020 by Hélène D. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 6, 2020 by Paritosh Chauhan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2019 by Leonardo Rosati (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3169830)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77880-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don)

Specifications

Growth