Annual vincas deliver colorful blooms on the hottest summer days.
Whats not to love about annual vinca?
An array of colorful blooms held above glossy foliage is a win for any situation.
Peter Krumhardt.
One of annual vincas claims to fame is its ability to perform spectacularly on even the hottestsummer days.
Vinca flowers are suspended over glossy, emerald-green foliage.
Many cultivars are described as with eye.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
These varieties feature one color in the center of the bloom that fades out to a main color.
Flower colors can be pink, red, white, or purple.
The smaller size of these newer varieties makes the plants easier to manage and well-suited forcontainer plantings.
Credit: Scott Little
These plants can be trailing or upright.
Trailing vincas are a great option forspilling out of a container or hanging basket.
Trailing varieties are also useful as groundcovers and in beds and borders.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Position them at the same depth they were in their containers.
If you use the vincas in a bed or border, position them 8 inches apart.
If they are forgroundcover for a larger area, position them 12 to 18 inches apart.
Credit: Justin Hancock
After 7-21 days, they should have at least two pairs of true leaves.
Annual Vinca Care Tips
Annual vinca is an easy-care plant that needs little attention to flourish.
Water regularly when the top 2 inches of soil are dry, but dont overwater.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Annual vincas tolerate drought but not overwatering.
Keep the soil consistently moist during germination.
Vincas can also bestarted from cuttings, but they require high humidity and bottom heat to start.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Mediterranean Deep Rose
CatharanthusMediterranean Deep Rose produces rich magenta-rose flowers on trailing plantsperfect for containers.
Pacifica Burgundy Halo
CatharanthusPacifica Burgundy Halo produces deep red-pink flowerswith a large white eye.
It grows 12 inches tall.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Pacifica Punch
CatharanthusPacifica Punch is an award-winning selection that produces deep rose-pink flowers with a magenta eye.
It grows 12 inches tall.
Pretty in White
CatharanthusPretty in White bears large, pure-white flowers on compact plants.
Tropical Rose
CatharanthusTropical Rose produces large, bold magenta-red flowers on compact plants.
While all varieties are beautiful, keep an eye out for the sweetly scented selections.
If you have a bright, sunny spot indoors, you might keep it flowering all winter.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Most gardeners treat angelonia as an annual, but it is perennial inUSDA Zones9-10.
Shown here is Calibrachoa MiniFamous Compact Red.
Zones 9-11
Lisianthus
Lisianthus flowersmake people ooh and ahh.
Credit: John Reed Forsman
Some varieties of this annual look like a blue rose.
Its such an elegant flower; youd never guess its native to American prairies.
Theyre tricky to start from seed, so stick with established seedlings.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Plant them in rich, well-drained soil in full sun after all danger of frost has passed.
Keep moist, but dont overwater.
Annual vincas (Catharanthus roseus) are grown as annuals in zones 2-11.
Theother two vincasare perennials (and invasive).
