Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is in the Dogbane Family family (Apocynaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 894 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Nationally it blooms mainly from September to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Madagascar Periwinkle: observations by month (U.S.)
About Madagascar Periwinkle
Catharanthus roseus, commonly known as the Madagascar periwinkle, rose periwinkle, or rosy periwinkle, is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae. It is native and endemic to Madagascar, but grown elsewhere as an ornamental and medicinal plant, a source of the drugs vincristine and vinblastine, used to treat cancer. Other English names include Vinca, Cape periwinkle, rose periwinkle, rosy periwinkle, and "old-maid". It was formerly included in the genus Vinca as Vinca rosea.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Madagascar Periwinkle by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 766 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Hawaii | 59 | January | Jul–Feb |
| Texas | 23 | October | Sep–Dec |
| Alabama | 8 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Mississippi | 7 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Georgia | 6 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Dogbane Family)
Butterfly Milkweed
Common Milkweed
Lesser Periwinkle
Swamp Milkweed
Showy Milkweed
Green Antelopehorns
Narrowleaf Milkweed
Spreading Dogbane
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Madagascar Periwinkle?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from September to August.
Where is Madagascar Periwinkle most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Hawaii, Texas.