Madagascar Periwinkle is a tender perennial that brings reliable, prolific color to gardens in zones 10-11, or thrives as an annual bedding plant in cooler climates. This bushy, mounding plant grows 6-18 inches tall and wide, producing phlox-like tubular flowers in shades of rosy-pink from June through the first frost. Its low maintenance nature and impressive drought tolerance make it a garden workhorse, especially in hot, humid summers where it truly flourishes. The species produces showy blooms almost constantly when conditions are right, covering attractive foliage with an abundance of five-petaled flowers that emerge singly from the leaf axils.
Partial Sun
Moderate
10-11
18in H x 18in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The flowers appear in profusion all summer long, with the best floral display happening during the heat of the season. Seeds should be started indoors 12-16 weeks before your last frost date, germinating best at 70-75°F. Once established, it tolerates drought and dry soil remarkably well, making it an excellent choice for gardeners who want abundance without fussiness. It handles both full sun and partial shade, adapting gracefully to whatever light your garden offers.
Madagascar Periwinkle is grown primarily as an ornamental bedding plant and container specimen, valued for its reliable, showy summer flowers. In zones 10-11, it serves as a woody-based perennial for garden beds and borders. Its compact, mounding habit and continuous bloom make it popular for annual plantings where long-season color is desired.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 12-16 weeks before your last frost date in a warm location. Seeds germinate best at soil temperatures between 70-75°F. Keep the seed-starting medium consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Set out seedlings or purchased starter plants in spring after the last frost date has passed. Space plants 6-18 inches apart depending on your desired mature size and spacing.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Madagascar Periwinkle earned its common name from its native origin on the island of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa. The plant belongs to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) and has traveled from its tropical island home to become a beloved annual bedding plant across temperate gardens worldwide. In regions where it cannot survive winter outdoors, gardeners grow it as an annual, replanting fresh each season to capture its prolific summer blooms.”