Catharanthus roseus

Madagascar periwinkle

Family: Apocynaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Madagascar periwinkle is a naturalized perennial found in southern California deserts, including coastal and desert regions, in canyon and desert spring habitats at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces striking pink flowers 3 to 5 centimeters wide with an expansive corolla. Growing 30 to 60 centimeters tall with an erect habit, the plant develops sturdy stems that support its graceful structure. Its leaves are elliptic with tapered bases and mucronate tips, typically carried on petioles less than one centimeter long. The fruit develops in a nearly straight configuration, completing the plant's distinctive botanical profile.

Habitat: Canyons, desert springs

Bloom period: Summer

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: SCo, D

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.