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Catharanthus roseus

Periwinkle सदाबहार

Naturalised

An erect, ever-flowering ornamental herb, so widely naturalised in gardens and roadsides that it's easy to forget it's originally from Madagascar. Its everyday, unassuming appearance belies its real significance: it's one of the most important medicinal plants ever discovered, the source of vinca alkaloids used in modern cancer chemotherapy.

The plant

Habit Herb, Flowers

Origin Naturalised

Flowering Summer, Monsoon, Winter

Edible To be verified

Growing it

Drainage Needs to drain well

Life it supports

No specific wildlife-relationship data recorded for this species.

The story

Used, alongside flowers like Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Mirabilis jalapa, in daily puja offerings.

What it is used for

Grown widely as a garden ornamental.
In local folk belief, a leaf extract is taken to help control blood sugar in diabetic patients.
It's also traditionally used to pacify aggravated pitta and kapha (Ayurvedic imbalances associated with heat and heaviness), and for hypertension; the root is considered stomachic and tonic.

These uses are documented for information only and are not medical advice. Always verify the species and the plant part before use.

Where it is found

Endemic to Madagascar, now cultivated and often naturalised across many tropical countries.

Sources

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