How to Grow Vinca in Arizona and Other Hot Climates

By: Angela Judd | June 26, 2025

A Complete Growing Guide for Annual Vinca or Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) in Heat, Sun, and Drought

White periwinkle flowers bloom in a garden with green leaves and sunlight in the background, offering a lovely scene for anyone learning how to grow vinca successfully.

When you see flats of vinca at nearly every nursery in Arizona, you know one thing—summer is right around the corner. This tough, sun-loving flower is practically synonymous with hot weather in the low desert. Once it’s planted, vinca blooms through the intense heat of summer and into the fall with very little effort. In fact, it’s one of the most reliable summer flowers I grow.

Vinca comes in a wide range of colors and types, from classic upright plants to trailing varieties and even micro-blooming forms. It’s frost sensitive, but in mild winters, it may return the following spring or reseed itself. You can start seeds indoors, but it’s usually not necessary. Transplants are widely available and easy to grow.

One of my favorite things about vinca is its incredible drought tolerance. I’ve had plants that looked completely dried up and done for, but after a deep soak, they bounced back and bloomed like nothing happened. It’s an ideal choice for low-maintenance beds and containers in hot summer gardens.

When to Plant Vinca

A person demonstrates how to grow vinca by planting flowers in a large terracotta pot with a small hand shovel.

Vinca is a warm-season annual in most climates, but in mild-winter areas like the low desert of Arizona, it can sometimes perennialize.

General Timing (Zones 8–11)
- Start seeds indoors: January–May
- Transplant outdoors: After danger of frost, typically March–July
- Direct sowing: Possible once the soil is warm, but slower to establish
Low Desert Planting Dates (Zone 9b)
- Start seeds indoors: Late January-May
- Transplant outdoors: March-July

Vinca seeds need warmth and light to germinate, making them a little tricky to start. Use bottom heat and avoid covering the seeds. Many gardeners prefer to purchase transplants. Vinca is widely available at local nurseries in spring and early summer.

For more heat-tolerant flowers, see 10 Flowers That Love Hot Summers (and How to Grow Them).

Growing Tips for Healthy Vinca

Bright pink vinca flowers blooming in a garden bed, surrounded by green leaves and sunlight. Learn how to grow vinca for vibrant color all season long.

Vinca is generally pretty easy to grow, especially once it’s established. Here’s what it needs to do its best:

Sun: Full sun is ideal. You’ll get the most blooms when vinca gets plenty of direct light. Afternoon shade can help in extremely hot climates, but it’s not required. Plants may wilt a little in the heat of the day, but they often perk back up when the sun goes down.

Soil: Good drainage is essential. Vinca doesn’t like wet feet, so avoid heavy soils or containers without drainage holes.

Wilted pink and white flowers with drooping green leaves in a garden bed hint at the importance of learning how to grow vinca for healthier blooms.

Water: Water deeply, then let the top inch of soil dry out before watering again. Once it’s established, vinca is impressively drought-tolerant. I’ve seen plants that looked dried out bounce back after a good soak. It’s one of the reasons I plant it every summer.

Fertilizer: Totally optional. You can feed it with a balanced organic fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks if needed, but I usually don’t unless the plants start looking tired.

Spacing:

Upright types: Space about 8 to 12 inches apart
Trailing types: Give them more room—12 to 18 inches apart so they can spread and fill in

That’s really it. Vinca isn’t fussy, and it handles summer heat better than almost anything else in my garden.

Types of Vinca

Upright Vinca

Traditional bedding vinca grows in mounds and is ideal for garden beds and borders. It blooms steadily through the summer and fall. Pinch once or twice early on to encourage bushier growth.

White periwinkle flowers with green leaves, wet with raindrops, thrive in a wooden planter box—a lovely example of how to grow vinca successfully.

Trailing Vinca

These varieties have a spreading, cascading habit that works beautifully in containers and as ground cover. They don’t need pinching and quickly fill in empty spaces.

Hanging basket with lush green leaves and small white flowers, displayed outdoors in natural light—perfect inspiration for anyone learning how to grow vinca.

Kawaii Vinca

This compact type features tiny blooms in unique colors like Coral, Blueberry Kiss, Peppermint, and Florida Blue. It’s perfect for containers and edges where smaller flowers can stand out. This type of vinca does best with afternoon shade.

Person holding a pot and a tray of colorful flowering plants, including vinca, each labeled with a small chalkboard sign—perfect for those learning how to grow vinca in their own vibrant garden.

For help identifying more flower types, visit the Arizona Annual Flowers Visual Guide.

Vinca in Containers and Favorite Pairings

Vinca shines in containers during the summer. Its tolerance for heat and drought makes it a dependable choice when many other flowers struggle.

To help vinca thrive in containers, especially in hot climates, add an olla (like a GrowOya). It provides consistent, deep watering—ideal for summer containers that dry out quickly.

A person planting a white flower in soil with a small hand trowel, demonstrating how to grow vinca in a garden.

Try pairing vinca with these heat-tolerant favorites:

Kawaii vinca + portulaca or dwarf zinnias: Perfect for colorful pots. Get tips in How to Grow Zinnias.
Trailing vinca + upright basil: A cascading effect that’s both beautiful and practical. Learn more in How to Grow Basil.
Pink or lavender trailing vinca + dusty miller: The silver foliage adds a cool contrast to bright blooms.
White vinca + white gomphrena: A stunning, long-lasting combo from summer through fall. See How to Grow Gomphrena.
Vinca + angelonia: Heat-loving and low-maintenance, this pairing delivers continuous color all summer. Learn more in How to Grow Angelonia.

White gomphrena and trailing vinca plants in pots, labeled with signs, and a close-up of their flowers—perfect for anyone learning how to grow vinca successfully.

For more container ideas, check out Container Gardening for Beginners.

Why Vinca Might Struggle (and What to Do About It)

Although vinca is generally easy to grow, sometimes it just doesn’t thrive. If your plants are struggling, here are a few common reasons to consider:

Root rot: Vinca doesn’t like wet feet. If the soil doesn’t drain well or is watered too frequently, roots can rot. Use well-draining soil, avoid overwatering, and let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings—especially in containers.
Aphids or spider mites: These pests often show up during hot, dry spells. Rinse plants with a strong stream of water or use insecticidal soap if needed. Look under the leaves and along stems for signs of infestation. Learn more treatments for spider mites in this guide.
Yellowing leaves: This can happen when soil stays soggy or air circulation is poor. Give plants enough space, improve airflow, and make sure containers aren’t sitting in saucers full of water.

Final Thoughts on How to Grow Vinca

A pot of pink coral kanani vinca flowers with a label stake in the soil—perfect for those learning how to grow vinca in their own garden.

Vinca is often overlooked because it’s so common, but there’s a reason it shows up at every nursery when summer hits. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance, heat-tolerant flower that thrives all summer, vinca is a top pick. Whether you plant upright types in garden beds or let trailing varieties spill from containers, vinca earns its spot as a dependable and hard-working flower in any hot climate garden.

Love growing vinca too?
If this post was helpful, share it with a friend or fellow gardener! You can also tag me @growinginthegarden on Instagram. I’d love to see how vinca is growing in your garden.