Other Names:  Shrub Vinca

Description:

This medium to large shrub features narrowly elliptic or oblong leathery leaves that are dark green and glossy; star shaped pink flowers with vivid red centers appear all year, followed by dull red fruit; tolerates coastal environments well

Ornamental Features

Pink Kopsia features showy clusters of pink star-shaped flowers with scarlet eyes at the ends of the branches from early winter to late fall, which emerge from distinctive rose flower buds. It has attractive forest green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring. The large glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain forest green throughout the winter. The fruits are showy brick red drupes displayed from early winter to late fall.

Landscape Attributes

Pink Kopsia is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Pink Kopsia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Pink Kopsia will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is an amazingly adaptable plant, tolerating both dry conditions and even some standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. To help this plant achive its best flowering performance, periodically apply a flower-boosting fertilizer from early spring through into the active growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.

Pink Kopsia makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.