Differences between Vinca and Periwinkle

Plant morphology

Vinca is a creeping, semi-shrub plant with a prostrate, creeping stem and a short plant. The leaf margins, petioles, calyx and throat of the corolla of Vinca are hairy.

Catharanthus roseus is a subshrub with branches. The plant grows upright and can be up to 60 cm high. The whole plant is glabrous or has only slight hairs.

From the perspective of the plants, the biggest difference between Vinca vine and Catharanthus roseus is that one is creeping while the other stands upright.

Leaf shape

The leaves of Vinca are elliptical, 2-6 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, with acute tips and opposite leaves.

The leaves of Catharanthus roseus are membranous, obovate-oblong, 3-4 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm wide, and rounded at the tip.

The difference between Vinca and Catharanthus roseus in terms of leaves is that the leaves of Vinca are larger and have sharper tips than those of Catharanthus roseus. The leaves of Vinca rosea are a little more round.

Flower shape

When Vinca blooms, the flowers are single and axillary, with a blue corolla and a funnel-shaped corolla tube. The color of Vinca's flowers is blue-purple.

When Catharanthus roseus blooms, the flowers are borne in the axillary or terminal parts, usually 2-3 flowers. The corolla is red and the corolla tube is cylindrical. Because there are many varieties of Catharanthus roseus. The colors of the flowers are also different: pink, red, white, yellow... each has its own characteristics and is beautiful beyond words.

Another difference between Vinca and Periwinkle is their flowering period. The flowering period of Vinca vine is concentrated from March to May every year, which is spring, while the flowering period of Vinca rosea is not restricted by season and blooms almost all year round.

Compared with Catharanthus roseus and Vinca major, Catharanthus roseus only has one blue-purple flower and a shorter flowering period. Catharanthus roseus can produce two or three flowers, with many colors and a long flowering period.