Catharanthus roseus, commonly referred to as the Madagascar periwinkle, rose periwinkle, or rosy periwinkle, belongs to the flowering plant species in the dogbane family Apocynaceae. Indigenous and exclusive to Madagascar, it is cultivated in various regions as an ornamental and medicinal plant, serving as a vital source for the cancer-fighting drugs vincristine and vinblastine. Additional English names for this plant include “Cape periwinkle” and “old-maid.” Previously classified under the genus Vinca as Vinca rosea, this charming tender perennial can be grown easily as an annual, flourishing with abundant blooms in hot, arid climates and relatively nutrient-poor soils. Its glossy green leaves form a backdrop for the appealing five-petaled flowers, which showcase hues ranging from pink, red, and purple to white and bi-coloured blossoms. This evergreen subshrub or herbaceous plant typically attains a height of 1 meter.
