Catharanthus roseus
Madagascar periwinkle
(c) Louis Aureglia, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Louis Aureglia · licence
Family: Apocynaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) is a non-native California subshrub in the Apocynaceae family, recognized by Escaped ornamental from Madagascar, establishing in warm desert areas.
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.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Escaped ornamental from Madagascar, establishing in warm desert areas
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyons, desert springs
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: native to Madagascar
Bloom period
Catharanthus roseus blooms Summer.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Vinca: Catharanthus is erect (30-60 cm) with pink or white flowers; Vinca (periwinkle) is a trailing groundcover that roots at its stem tips, with blue-violet flowers.; vs Nerium: Catharanthus is a soft herb with broad elliptic leaves; Nerium (oleander) is a large woody shrub with narrow, leathery, lance-linear leaves.; vs Amsonia: Catharanthus flowers are pink with a broad flat face; Amsonia flowers are pale blue and star-shaped in terminal clusters.; vs Apocynum: Catharanthus has large flat salverform flowers 3-5 cm wide; Apocynum (dogbane) has tiny bell-shaped white-to-pink flowers only a few mm long.; vs Impatiens: Catharanthus exudes milky sap and has flat, 5-lobed pinwheel flowers; Impatiens has watery sap and spurred, bilaterally irregular flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Catharanthus roseus native to California?
No. Catharanthus roseus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Catharanthus roseus bloom?
Catharanthus roseus blooms Summer.
What plant family does Catharanthus roseus belong to?
Catharanthus roseus is in the Apocynaceae family, genus Catharanthus.
Is Catharanthus roseus invasive in California?
Catharanthus roseus is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Catharanthus roseus grow in?
Catharanthus roseus grows in Canyons, desert springs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.