Tall Vinca

Swallowtail butterfly visiting blooming vinca on my deck. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Tall Vinca

Yes, Vinca can grow tall.

Annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus) also known as Madagascar periwinkle, uis a tropical perennial that is grown as an annual in most US regions. It has flowers and foliage that resemble those of impatiens. The main difference is that Vinca likes sun while impatiens prefer shade.

Vinca foliage is dark green and leathery. Depending on the variety, the plants are 6 to 18 inches tall.

Annual vinca plants bear single blooms with five petals that frequently touch or overlap from early summer until the first frost. Many varieties feature a contrasting eye.

Over the years, I tend to see Vinca used mostly in hanging pots.

This hanging pot of Vinca was recently on sale at a local garden center. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Easy to grow, I like to tuck the end of early summer plants on sale into some of my potted plants on my deck. The flowers settle in quite nicely and add color when other plants are starting to shut down.

Recent pink and purple Vinca plant additions to a deck pot. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Vinca also winter over quite nicely inside. I have several pots of Vinca that keep blooming inside through winter, then after a short break start blooming again outside.

These are now almost 2 feet tall.

This pink Vinca with white centers has wintered over in this pot for two seasons. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Vinca are favorite butterfly and bee flowers. If you are just starting to plant for pollinators, these are a good flower to add to your garden dreams list to grow next year.

In a pinch, they also can be used as cut flowers although the flower petals do make a bit of a mess when they drop.

Charlotte