Botanical Name: Pentas lanceolata
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Common Name: Star Clusters, Pentas  
Plant photo of: Pentas lanceolata
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial, Annual

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Lavender, Pink, Red, White

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

 

Leaf Color

Dark Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium, High

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Tropical

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

 

Location Uses

Indoor, Patio, Raised Planter

 

Special Uses

Container

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Sanchez & Maddux

  • Description

  • Notes

A lovely tender perennial typically used here as an annual. It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide, with lustrous, heavily ribbed leaves and dense, rounded clusters of tiny star-like flowers. Flower colors are pink, magenta, and lilac. Blooms spring to early summer.
Technically a perennial, Pentas is only hardy in USDA Zones 10-11, so here, it is usually used as an annual, though you can bring it inside over the winter months is you have a bright, cool spot with some humidity to offer. Outdoors, grow in rich, well amended, well-drained soils in full sun, though it tolerates part shade. During the growing season, water regularly (allow soils to dry somewhat between waterings) and feed monthly.