Madagascar periwinkle

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Related to Madagascar periwinkle: Madagascan periwinkle

Madagascar periwinkle

A low-growing perennial plant (Catharanthus roseus) native to Madagascar, having pink or white flowers and cultivated as a groundcover and as a source of alkaloids used to treat diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. Also called rosy periwinkle.

Madagascar periwinkle

Herbal medicine
A subtropical plant that contains two anticancer alkaloids, vinblastine and vincristine; it has been used as a herb to treat stings and bleeding, and as a gargle for sore throat and respiratory complaints.

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Bedding or wax begonias, heliotrope, impatiens, and Madagascar periwinkle can be moved indoors and grown as house plants over the winter.

WHAT TO DO IN YOUR GARDEN IN SEPTEMBER

When they start looking ragged, pull them out and replant beds and containers with heat-tolerant annuals such as gazania, globe amaranth, gloriosa daisy Madagascar periwinkle, marigold, moss rose, petunia, sunflower, and zinnia.

WHAT TO DO IN YOUR GARDEN IN JULY

For instant impact, set out nursery seedlings of ageratum, amaranth, celosia, China aster, coleus, gazania, geranium, heliotrope, impatiens, Madagascar periwinkle, nierembergia, ornamental pepper, petunia, and scarlet sage.

WHAT TO DO IN YOUR GARDEN IN JUNE

For summer color, set out coreopsis, gaillardia, globe amaranth, Madagascar periwinkle, penstemon, perennial statice, portulaca, salvia, sanvitalia, sunflower, verbena, and zinnia.

As early in the month as possible, set out cockscomb, firebush, globe amaranth, Madagascar periwinkle, portulaca, purslane, salvia, and zinnia.

Water-thrifty plants by the pool, vegetable seedlings by mail, compact head lettuce

Some good choices of colorful summer-blooming plants include coreopsis, gaillardia, globe amaranth, Madagascar periwinkle, penstemon, statice, portulaca, salvia, sanvitalia, sunflower, verbena, and zinnia.