How Are Vinca Rosea & Vinca Minor Alike?

Perinkle flowers are in the dogbane family.

Vinca rosea (Catharanthus roseus) is also known as Madagascar periwinkle and rose periwinkle. Vinca minor is known as myrtle, creeping myrtle and periwinkle. Both plants are members of the dogbane (Apocynaceae) family. The two plants are very similar to each other in many ways with minor differences that make them a separate variety.

Size

Vinca rosea is an evergreen plant that grows form 2 to 3 feet tall and the same in width when grown as a perennial. As an annual, it only grows from 3 to 4 inches tall. Vinca minor is also evergreen and grows up to 6 inches tall.

Flowers

Vinca rosea produces pink, red, purple or white five-petaled flowers. Vinca minor produces blue-purple, reddish-lavender or white five-petaled flowers.

Environment

Vinca rosea and vinca minor can both be planted in partial shade. Vinca rosa and vinca minor both grow in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8, vinca rosa as an annual and vinca minor as a perennial. Vinca rosa grows as a perennial in zones 9 through 11.

References

• Floridata: Catharanthus roseus
• University of Florida: Catharanthus roseus
• Ohio State University: Vinca minor
• Colorado State University: 2002--The Year of the Vinca