Flower profile

Madagascar periwinkle

Catharanthus roseus

Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is a low shrub in the Apocynaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly January–November across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Madagascar periwinkle is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in January–November.

10states where USDA records it

2Bloomipedia state lists include it

7,606U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida, Hawaii

Quick look

Catharanthus roseus, commonly known as bright eyes, Cape periwinkle, graveyard plant, Madagascar periwinkle, old maid, pink periwinkle, rose periwinkle, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is native and endemic to Madagascar, but is grown elsewhere as an ornamental and medicinal plant, and now has a pantropical distribution.
From Wikipedia's article Catharanthus roseus, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Apocynaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a annual, perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 10 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Florida and Hawaii. ^NatureServe
In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–November. ^iNaturalist
In Hawaii, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–December. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 6,282 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #23 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 621 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #81 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (904 records)

Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Florida	Introduced	January–November	6,282
Hawaii	Introduced	January–December	621

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Florida: Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Florida. ^{FAC 5B-40.0055}
Hawaii: Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Hawaii. ^{HAR 13-107}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Consuming large quantities of the plant can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, hallucinations, depression, tremors, seizures, coma, death” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsCan be a problem for cats, dogs and horses

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, dogs and horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. ^{NC State Extension}

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records madagascar periwinkle in 10 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas.

Florida counties with USDA records: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Escambia, Franklin, Glades, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, St. Lucie, Volusia, Walton.

Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Navassa Island: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Puerto Rico: Introduced; U.S. Virgin Islands: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Ammocallis rosea, Lochnera rosea, Vinca rosea.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 48 counties across 11 states; the most are in Florida (28), Texas (5), Hawaii (4).

More from the Apocynaceae family (28 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Lesser periwinkle, Swamp milkweed, Greater periwinkle, Green antelopehorns, Antelopehorn milkweed, Showy milkweed.

More Florida flowers

Tropical milkweed

Asclepias curassavica

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–April

Sandhill milkweed

Asclepias humistrata

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: March–May

White beggarticks

Bidens alba

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–March

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CARO14.
iNaturalist, Catharanthus roseus: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Catharanthus roseus (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Catharanthus roseus (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Bailey Duncan via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.