The pentas plants are annual or
perennial mountain flowers tailor-made for butterflies. Pentas has nectar-rich
flowers that grow in clusters over several seasons in vibrant pink, red and
purple irresistible to butterflies. The plant is with clusters of many shallow
blooms that provide easy access for the butterfly proboscis, allowing the butterflies
to dip into many flowers in a short period. Honeybees like pentas, so you can add
some into your pollinator gardens for increased activity.
This plant actually belongs to the
Rubiaceae family, which includes other prized ornamentals like coffee and
gardenias. The pentas plants are most times described at the garden center by
its common names’ Egyptian starflower, starflower, or a star cluster. The plant
can be grown anywhere as an annual.
The botanical name: The botanical name
is Pentas lanceolata
The common name: The common name is Egyptian
Star Cluster
The Plant Type: Annual
The mature size: eighteen to
twenty-four inches
The sun exposure: The plant prefers full
sun to partial shade
The soil type: Pentas does well in fertile
soil with a good drainage.
The soil pH: Mildly acidic
The blooming time: Heat of summer
The flower color: The flower colors
are pink, red, lavender, or white
Plant Hardiness Zones: USDA 6–11
The Native Area: This plant is native
to Africa
How To Grow Pentas
The plant is grown wild in East
Africa. Pentas plants are ideal for summer borders and containers: The average
height of pentas is about eighteen to twenty-four inches. If they are planted
as perennials in frost-free zones they can reach about 4 feet tall or higher.
The dark green foliage is slightly fuzzy. The 5 petaled blossoms grow in 3 inch
clusters similar to other butterfly favorites like lantana, sedum and Queen
Anne’s lace. Blossom colors include purple, pink, red and white. The plants can
actually stay in bloom continuously under ideal growing conditions, so it’s
worth weekly care to actually keep the plants in optimum health.
Furthermore, a lot gardeners choose
pentas transplants to start in the garden, but you can try planting the fresh
pentas seed saved from the last year’s flowers. Pentas seeds also require light
to germinate, so make sure you doesn’t cover them with soil.
Light requirement: Any plants that
receive at least 3 hours of direct sun will produce the best flowers. Any plants
that do not receive enough sunlight will stretch and become leggy. Pentus plants
prefer full sun, however some afternoon shade is tolerated.
Soil requirement: The plant
appreciates a mildly acidic soil pH in the range of 6.0. You can plant directly
into watters organic potting soil, also amending the soil with watters premium
mulch will increase the acidity of the soil for brighter flowers.
Water requirement: The plant needs
regular irrigation to stay healthy. Make sure you keep the soil moist. Make
sure you avoid regular overhead watering to prevent unsightly brown spots on
the foliage.
Temperature and humidity: With the
plant tropical origin, Pentus clusters love heat and humidity and they also thrive
in warm climates.
Fertilizer requirement: You can fertilize
the pentas twice per month with Watters Flower Power when in bloom.
Potting and repotting: Pentas plants
really thrive in containers or pots. The plant can be easily grown indoors in
rooms with bright indoor light. You can bring the plants indoors before the
first frost, or take the cuttings from your desired varieties. A cool place that
has bright light is an ideal spot to overwinter plants. Keep the indoor pentas plants
vigorous by adding a supplementary light source, and also by increasing the
humidity with a gravel-and-water filled tray.
Pruning: In frost-free growing zones,
the plants will really exhibit their shrubby nature. You can prune the plants
to 6 inches in January when the bloom production is at its lowest. After
several seasons the stems of the pentas plant will become so woody it’s worth
replacing them. When growing pentas as an annual for one season, no pruning is actually
necessary, on the other hand regular deadheading will keep the pentas plants
blooming productively.
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