I walk by a bed of pentas flowers. They are really quite pretty and unusual. I haven’t ever planted any myself but have admired them in others’ yards. I’m guessing that “penta” must mean five since that is how the word “Pentagon” starts. I have a friend whose husband used to work at the Pentagon. He was in the U.S. Army. At one point, he was in charge of a large number of PX’s and often flew all over the country to check on them. He said the people in the Alaska office used to “pack heat” or take guns to work with them because of all the wildlife near the office. But, I digress. Let’s learn more about the beautiful pentas flowers.
According to Wikipedia, pentas is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus is found in tropical and southern Africa, the Comoros, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula.
The plants have hairy green leaves and clusters of flowers in shades of red, white, pink and purple. Pentas are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Some species are commonly cultivated and can be grown in pots and baskets. Species such as Pentas lanceolata can withstand full sunlight and need little to no care, growing even in locations that are dry and hot.
Pentas lanceolata, commonly known as Egyptian starcluster, is a species of flowering plant in the madder family, Rubiaceae that is native to much of Africa as well as Yemen. It is known for its wide use as a garden plant where it often accompanies butterfly gardens.
According to Bonnie L. Grant’s article “Growing Penta Plants: How to Care for Pentas” at gardeningknowhow.com, planting perennials is an economical way of introducing year-round color and texture in the landscape. Pentas are warm region tropical blooming plants, so called because of the five-pointed petals on the flowers. The plants come in a profusion of colors, so learn how to care for pentas and enjoy their rich jewel tones. When you know how to grow pentas, you have a foolproof way of attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, too.
Description
Pentas lanceolata are also called Egyptian stars for the bloom’s five-pointed shape. The plant is a shrub that gets up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It is a scrubby plant with an unruly shape, sporting oval to spear-shaped foliage. The flowers are generally pink, red or white but new cultivars have introduced tones of purple and lavender and mixed blooms such as pink with red centers.
Pentas flowers can be used as annuals during summer in climates colder than USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 10. They will simply die back when the cold weather arrives, or you can try to growing pentas plants indoors.
Pests
These plants grow fairly slow and are commonly found as container or bedding plants. Pentas plant care is similar to any warm season perennial. They are not prone to many diseases and the main pest problem is spider mites.
How to grow pentas
If you want more of these delightful plants, they are fairly easy to propagate. Pentas plants grow from seed or from softwood cuttings. Take cuttings in spring from terminal wood and dip the ends into a rooting hormone. Push the cut stem into a soilless medium, such as sand, that has been pre-moistened. The cutting will root and produce a new plant within a couple of weeks.
How to care for pentas
Pentas are low maintenance plants. Provided they get plenty of water, sunshine and heat, they will perform beautifully and reward you with an abundance of blooms. Deadhead pentas flowers to encourage more blooms. Young pentas plant care should include pinching off the stem ends to force a more compact plant.
Fertilize in spring with a slow-release granular fertilizer. Mulch around in-ground plants to conserve water and repel weeds.
Save outdoor plants in winter by digging them up and putting them in a container with a good potting soil. Bring them indoors to a warm room with bright light and no drafts. Reintroduce the plant gradually to the outdoors in spring as soon as ambient temperatures are 65 degrees F. or more.
According to the article Pentas Plant: How to Care for Pentas Flower” at plantcaretoday.com, pentas shine even in the hottest of summers. They bloom bright, beautiful flowers making them an attractive hummingbird plant. They are perfect plants for the butterfly garden drawing them in by the dozens!
For the best results, start planting during late spring. Use a well-drained, moist soil and plenty of sunlight for good measure.
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