vinca rosea - catharanthus roseus

Vinca rosea / Catharanthus roseus is commonly known as Madagascar Periwinkle. It can withstand high temperatures and drought conditions, even in the heat of summer it can withstand for a few days even without water. It blooms most of the year in sunny positions. It is a star performer and is a favorite plant for many for its ability to withstand all kinds of treatments and it still blooms and thrives.



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Vinca rosea loves sun but it does best with some partial shade during the day for sometime during the summer. They look a little exhausted by the end of the day if in full sun, throughout the day. It can be grown in a mostly shady spot, but there will not be many flowers. In the shady spot the foliage will be more lush without flowers. Partly shaddy sun seems to be the best spot, with good lush foliage and abudant blooms.

As many plants do, they also prefer a rich soil, but will grow well in sandy soil also. Plants in containers or raised beds with rich soil, produces extremely healthy plants for a brilliant display. In poor soil, they do OK, but may look worse during summer.



Vinca rosea can withstand dry soil, but a Vinca rosea in pots can survive a few days without water during summer.

If the Vinca rosea leaves curl under, it shows that it needs watering. The plant can recover after plenty of watering.

The leaves are deep green and the leaves grow larger and lush when they are in partial shade. In sunnier, the foliage fades and leaves may drop off sometimes.



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Types of Vinca Roseas

There are three types of Vincas in general: creeping Vincas that spreads 8 -10 inches, dwarf Vincas that grows 10-14 inches tall and a border type Vincas that has bigger flowers and grows upto 14 - 20 inches tall. The latter two types are only available and there are several varieties, such as: Titan, Pacifica XP, Jams N’ Jellies, Mediterranean, Cooler, Heat Wave, Tropicana, Passion, Blue Pearl, Cora, and others. The vinca 'Cora Cascade' is named as lavender, though its true color is deep pink. Vinca ‘Cora’ is an upright hybrid. If you’re buying seeds, you can find white, pink, deep purple, lavender, deep red, with different center colors. The flowers simply fall off, but occasionally self pollinate and seed too. The regular Vinca roseas are perennial ones where as most hybrids are annuals or seasonal ones – they live upto only one season and wither as they bloom ones.

Insects and Diseases

There are no known pests or problems in Vinca rosea. Some insects that commonly attack vincas are thrips, spider mites, aphids and white flies. In order to have control over these insects, maintain by pulling weeds and keep new plants that come separately for sometime.

Propagation

Take stem cuttings of 3 inches size and remove the lower leaves and plant in a pot, or dip in a rooting hormone and plant. Water regularly and the cuttings will root. If the plants get leggy, it can be cut back close to the main stem and the cuttings can be used to propagate new ones.

Alternatively Vincas can be grown from seeds too. It takes a while to become large enough to bloom, but by seeds more color options can be had.



Role of vinca rosea (sadabahaar) plant leaves in controlling diabetes

vinca rosea brings down the high blood pressure, improves memory, improves blood circulation, relieves tooth ache and it provides anti-carcinogenic, anti-depresant, and anti-diabetic, effects. Some claim that just by chewing 2 – 3 leaves of Vinca rosea in empty stomach in the morning, reduces blood sugar levels remarkably. But more stringent studies are required to confirm the effects more scientifically.