Plant guide
Madagascar periwinkle
Catharanthus roseus
Madagascar periwinkle is toxic to cats. Keep the plant and fallen pieces away from your cat. Seek veterinary advice promptly after suspected ingestion.
What this guide covers: Catharanthus roseus only. Confirm the botanical label; a photograph cannot identify a visitor’s specimen.
Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Catharanthus roseus
By Ton Rulkens
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
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Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Catharanthus roseus
By Ton Rulkens
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
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Keep away from cats. We do not recommend this plant for a home where cats could reach it.
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Look for Catharanthus roseus and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Catharanthus roseus
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
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How to grow this plant
Catharanthus roseus only; the care categories summarize the cited growing guidance.
- Light
- Sunny position or Some direct sun
Full sun to partial shade is suitable.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist
Maintain moist soil with good drainage.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
Warm conditions suit this frost-tender plant. A preferred numerical growing range was not established in the reviewed source.
- Potting
- Use well-drained soil; an acidic pH is preferred.
- Through the year
- Grow as a warm-climate perennial or a seasonal annual where winters are cold.
Growing-guide sources
- Catharanthus roseus identity and growing guidance ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Exact named plant; outdoor and seasonal conditions retain their original context.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-17. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Severity
- Severity not established
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- Madagascar periwinkle cat/pet safety reference ↗ASPCA · Accessed
Listed by the source as Vinca rosea. ASPCA names Vinca rosea as toxic to cats. NC State lists Vinca rosea as a previous name of Catharanthus roseus. This does not merge the guide with Vinca minor or Vinca major.
- Madagascar periwinkle cat/pet safety reference ↗ASPCA · Accessed 2026-10-17
- Catharanthus roseus botanical identity ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
ASPCA names Vinca rosea as toxic to cats. NC State lists Vinca rosea as a previous name of Catharanthus roseus. This does not merge the guide with Vinca minor or Vinca major.
- Madagascar periwinkle: supporting reference ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Safety last reviewed .