if you mean the groundcover.. i have had one in my z5 for 10 years .... it is NOT tender ...

so i think you need to get a proper ID of which vinca you might have ...

and no.. i do not trust tags that come with the plant ... lol

ken

It is still there.

While larger leaved, I think it does have to be a close relative of the groundcover vinca. It is at least as aggressive a spreader, and I'm very glad it is in a bed bordered by the front walk.

Since I do like it better than the variegated euonymus it is trying to overcome, it is a general positive, but I can see where it might be a bit of an unwelcome shock to the unwary.

If the 'Vinca' you had in a window box, mad_gallica, was a vine then it would be true Vinca, not Catharanthus, and not only related but one of the same species as the ground cover Vinca. ie either Vinca major or Vinca minor, probably V major from the leaf size.

Vinca major (larger leaved form) tends to be a very aggressive spreader and comes in both a solid green and variegated form. Usually only considered hardy to zone 7.

Vinca minor (smaller leaves) is the most often used groundcover form and comes in both a range of flowers colors (white, magenta, dark purple, lilac or periwinkle blue) and foliage colors (several different variegated forms). Hardiest of the species (zone 4) and with a reputation for being invasive in certain locations.

Vinca roseus (syn. Catharanthus roseus) is the annual form (aka Madagascar periwinkle) with pink, white or lavender flowers. It is not a spreader and hardy to only zone 9.

It is sold as an annual here. This would make enormous sense if it was really only hardy to zone 7, but I'm fairly sure it has come through -15F unscathed. Even in a warm microclimate next to the garage, I wouldn't expect that to be zone 7. Zone 6 I'd buy, and it may just be much hardier than expected.

They may be sold with annuals for foliage color in hanging baskets and planters but they are just as hardy as the plain green groundcovers.

In Phoenix where I first worked at a nursery, Catharanthus roseus was always called "vinca" as it's common name not Madagascar periwinkle, it is a very important summer annual in extreme heat areas. I have never heard of this plant called Vinca roseus only Catharanthus roseus

kato_b - there are variegated Vinca minors as well as Vinca major, so not all variegated forms are V major. In the UK both are used as ground cover and as trailers in containers and both are hardy everywhere. Catharanthus is a tricky plant here because we just don't have enough sun and heat.

Other examples:
Cimicifuga/Actea
Sedum/Hylotelephium
new world Asters/Canadanthus, Doellingeria, Eucephalus, Eurybia, Ionactis, Oligoneuron, Oreostemma, Sericocarpus and Symphyotrichum
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis/Xanthocyparis nootkatensis

and the list goes on.......:-)

Dee