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Annual Vinca growing in a garden
Annual flower

Annual Vinca plant profile

Catharanthus roseus

An annual flower for full sun.

Last updated .

When to plant

When to plant Annual Vinca

Annual vinca is a heat-loving, warm-season annual. UF/IFAS gives planting by calendar month and zone (for example June in zone 7, May to June in zone 8), and notes it may be planted at any time of year in zones 10 and 11. It is set out well after frost once the soil is warm.

The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.

Open Annual Vinca in my garden calendar

Shows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun
Lifecycle
Annual
Spacing
12 to 18 in apart

Common problems

Watch for these

Also watch for: stem rot, blight, fungal leaf spot.

Evidence trail

Evidence behind this profile

Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.

  1. Catharanthus roseus: Periwinkle, Madagascar Periwinkle, Vinca (FPS112)

    UF/IFAS Extension (Ask IFAS / EDIS). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.

  2. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Periwinkle (Vinca rosea) entry

    ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Supports pet-safety verdicts for dogs and cats. Checked 2026-07-18.