Soirèe Cherish Red

Class

Dicotyledoneae

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Apocynaceae

Order

Gentianales

Genus

Catharanthus

Species

roseus

Description

An ornamental herbaceous plant with an upright or trailing habit depending on the variety, vigorous growth and abundant branching. It quickly forms dense canopies of foliage from which elegant flowers emerge in a wide range of colours, often with a centre of a different colour or shade, blooming profusely and continuously from late spring to early autumn, adding a vivid and striking accent to gardens, in flowerbeds or borders, and on terraces or balconies in planters, pots and troughs. Moderately hardy, it adapts well to high summer temperatures and moderate drought, preferring well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade; it is also easy to care for and maintain.

Variety description

Soirée is a new and innovative series of Catharanthus, which is very hardy and upright. It is a hybrid and has a stiffer, stronger stem than traditional vincas; the leaves are smaller and narrower, which helps to reduce water loss and makes the plant more drought-tolerant. The foliage is very uniform and rounded, with numerous small to medium-sized flowers. Soirée is an early-flowering variety and is more resistant to low temperatures (2–3 °C) in the garden bed than traditional hardy varieties. This ensures better performance in the garden bed, as well as lower crop losses. Among annual flowering plants, it is one of the most resistant to scorching heat and, unlike other vincas, its petals never wilt, even at temperatures exceeding 35°C. For late spring planting in flowerbeds, it is advisable to wait until the minimum outdoor temperatures have consistently risen above 10–11 °C.

Curiosities and special features

In its regions of origin, it was cultivated in the past to extract alkaloids with antimitotic activity, which were believed to have anti-cancer and anti-leukaemia properties.

Origin and distribution

Native mainly to the tropical regions of India and Madagascar, where the wild form was used by local people in folk medicine, it spread throughout the Indian Ocean during the 15th century via sailors who carried cuttings of the plant, and subsequently, through trade, reached West and South-East Asia as far as the Iberian Peninsula. In the 17th century, King Louis XV’s head gardener received seeds and cuttings of the Madagascar periwinkle from E. de Flacourt, governor of a French colony in the East Indies, who subsequently sent them to the United Kingdom, where it began to be cultivated as an ornamental greenhouse plant. Having spread throughout Europe from the 18th century onwards, it is now widely used to adorn gardens and terraces in a variety of cultivars with flowers in different shades.

Leaf

Leaf has a lanceolate lamina furrowed with veins.

Leaf colour

Leaf Solid colour matching the Flower.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.2 to 0.3 m, making it ideal for creating dense monochrome canopies or as a first-rate plant in compositions with other ornamentals.

Lifespan

An evergreen perennial plant, mainly grown asan annual.

Where to plant

Appreciated for its high decorative value in flowerbeds, balconies, terraces, borders, tubs, flowerbeds, planters.

Stem

It has a herbaceous stem and the plant has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is simple in shape, small to medium in size, with a dialipetal corolla. The petals are a solid colour. It flowers from late spring to mid-autumn, with a flowering period of between 130 and 170 days.

Growth

Growth is compact, ideal for creating scenic effects in flowerbeds and planters.

Plant habit

Its upright growth habit means it can be combined with other varieties, creating an alternating display of colours and shades that produces a pleasing chromatic effect.

Branching

Themoderate branching gives the plant a well-branched appearance, with an abundance of leaves and flowers.

PH

It prefers a sub-acidic soil pH between 5.5 and 6.0.

Soil preparation

Before spring or summer planting, dig the soil to a depth of about 20–30 cm, removing any weeds, residues from previous crops and large stones. Continue by working organic or slow-release chemical fertiliser evenly into the soil, then break up any large clods by hoeing. Create a slight mound to form a raised bed, which will improve soil drainage and thus prevent harmful waterlogging. Finally, add professional-grade growing medium to the surface to a depth of 5–10 cm, levelling it carefully.

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Sun exposure

Suitable for exposure in half shade, full sun, afternoon sun.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 18 and 25 °C; it thrives in hot summer climates.

Use

Its excellent growth and flowering performance, as well as its heat tolerance, make it ideal for
Outdoor ornamental use Outdoor landscape design Landscaping

Hardiness

Characterised by its high hardiness, it thrives in climatic conditions that other outdoor ornamental plants do not always tolerate.

Soil

It prefers medium-textured or slightly sandy soils that have been enriched and are well-drained; for growing in pots and planters, we recommend a specific growing medium for spring-flowering plants, based on peat and perlite.

Difficulty

It is easy to manage and maintain, making it an excellent choice among ornamental Flower Species.

Growing tips

Some specific growing guidelines to encourage better vegetative growth and abundant flowering:
Keep the growing medium dry at low temperatures

Combinations with other plants

To create compact, dense arrangements with abundant flowering and a striking overall effect, you can use several varieties ofCatharanthus roseus withflowers of different shades and hues at the same time, or combine it with other ornamental species such asBegonia x hybrida, Euphorbia hypericifolia, Helichrysum petiolare, Plectranthus coleoides, Salvia farinacea, Senecio cineraria and Solenostemon coleoides.

Planting

An average planting density of 20 plants per square metre in a flowerbed is recommended to ensure proper vegetative growth, thereby achieving a compact and well-proportioned final composition. It is also recommended to remove the seedling from its container without damaging the roots, placing it in a raised bed with the root collar above ground level, taking care not to compress the root ball excessively, and watering immediately after planting, which should preferably be carried out in the morning.

Propagation

By herbaceous or semi-woody cutting.

Watering

Use rainwater, or alternatively tap water or water from an irrigation channel – preferably with an acidic pH – either by hand-watering or using a localised irrigation system.

When transplanting, support the seedling to ensure it settles properly in its new location, maintaining a constant level of moisture in the soil but without overwatering or watering too frequently; subsequently, allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings, taking care to prevent the plant from drying out and always checking the soil before watering, preferably in the morning.

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Fertilising

Fertilisers, whether liquid or granular, designed for ornamental flowering plants are suitable for ensuring proper growth and abundant flowering throughout the spring and summer; it is recommended to apply the fertiliser in proportion to the plant’s needs, following the appropriate dosages and application frequencies as indicated on the label of the product being used.

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Pet safety

Toxic.

Edibility for humans

Non-edible.

Toxicity for humans

All parts of the plant are toxic due to the presence of large amounts of alkaloids.

Tip

The ‘Soirée’ variety has proved to be less sensitive to the drop in autumn temperatures than other types of Vinca, so much so that it prolongs the flowering period of the flowerbed even after the first autumn rains. It should be noted, however, that it is preferable to transplant them in late spring, when minimum temperatures have stabilised above 10–12°C, to encourage the fastest possible growth. It is advisable to prepare the soil in the flowerbeds by adding a layer of peaty compost to make it softer and improve establishment and root development. In the early stages after transplanting into the flowerbed, do not overwater; watering should always be carried out in the morning. ‘La Soirée’ is less demanding in terms of watering than other vincas, making it more sustainable than many other flowering bedding plants. It is also very hardy in the rain. It can tolerate short periods of drought in summer without suffering serious damage or yellowing of the leaves.