SunStorm® Deep Orchid Catharanthus

SunStorm® Deep Orchid Catharanthus is a compact, mounding Madagascar periwinkle selected for pink and rose flowers. It is a warm-season crop that gives color from mid-spring into summer in frost-prone gardens. ## Flowers and garden use [Syngenta Flowers]() identifies this exact SunStorm® selection (product 70006501) as Catharanthus roseus. The breeder describes the series as early-flowering, compact, well-branched, and free-flowering, and recommends packs and small pots. Its stated garden size is 8–10 inches tall by 10–12 inches wide. The exact page lists flowering from mid-spring through summer. Use it in sunny containers, bed edges, or massed seasonal plantings. ## Siting Choose full sun and well-drained soil. [UF/IFAS Extension](https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/fp112) describes Madagascar periwinkle as a tender perennial often grown as a warm-season annual, and recommends well-drained soil. It can be planted in containers or beds. In very hot climates, allow plants to establish before the most intense heat. ## Maintenance Water regularly while new plants establish, then reduce irrigation and avoid keeping the root zone wet. UF/IFAS notes that overwatering can lead to root rot. Modern Catharanthus hybrids generally do not need pinching or deadheading, according to [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/catharanthus-roseus/). Treat the selection as an annual where frost prevents it from overwintering; remove or replace it at the end of the warm season.