Gerris2 said:

Is there a cultivar name for the tall red Pentas? I'll look for it. Thanks for the information. Still learning here.

I wish I knew the exact cultivar of my Pentas Lanceolata , most you see in the garden centers are the dwarf Pentas. I bought mine many years ago at a mom and pop nursery here, the center of mine are mostly red with dark tips on the (anthers?) sorry not good at my flower parts. Most the red Pentas I see in garden centers have a white center in the middle of the flowers. If anyone knows, I'd like to know also. I've only seen the taller in the red color, they said on the tag they get up to 36 inches tall, most say up to 14- 18 inches tall.

I didn't notice the difference until you mentioned it, Sherri! Yes, most of what you see nowadays are the dwarfs.

gardenfish said:The red one I bought is called Graffiti Red.

I have Graffiti Pentas in pink and violet, they don't get near the height of the red flowers I have, the centers are white on both. How tall do your red Graffiti get?

gardenfish said:That's sad, Joanna. Zinnias are such happy flowers!

They are. I was able to grow some in a huge pot last year. But in beds, they're just snail food.

We all have our hated insects. Mine are aphids and fruitworms. Battle them every year. Well, the fruitworms were only terrible starting last year, but I think they will be really bad this year, too. I tackle waves of aphids every year.

Sorry about the snails, I don't see many here in Central Florida, I don't see many pest on the Pentas, maybe in dry times some mealy bugs.

sunkissed said:Sorry about the snails, I don't see many here in Central Florida, I don't see many pest on the Pentas, maybe in dry times some mealy bugs.

Thanks, it's funny, I don't see snails or slugs either! Only when I plant zinnias! I guess it's like an open invitation to dinner!

My midnight moon port seems to have settled now. Its putting flowers out larger than a blue porterweed. The cOlor doesnt seem too different from reg blue port. I have not seen any pollinators interested in it yet.

Eric, just remember, if you plant it, they will come!

sunkissed said:

I wish I knew the exact cultivar of my Pentas Lanceolata , most you see in the garden centers are the dwarf Pentas. I bought mine many years ago at a mom and pop nursery here, the center of mine are mostly red with dark tips on the (anthers?) sorry not good at my flower parts. Most the red Pentas I see in garden centers have a white center in the middle of the flowers. If anyone knows, I'd like to know also. I've only seen the taller in the red color, they said on the tag they get up to 36 inches tall, most say up to 14- 18 inches tall.

Thank you, Sherri!

sunkissed said:

Yes, thank you very much!!! I wish all butterflies would sit this still.

A single swallowtail has been at my lilac tree but I have been unable to get a picture of him/her.

Here is where the swallowtail has been spotted, but flies away as soon as I am ready for a shot.

It has grown quite a bit since last year. As I went through the dates...that wasn't last year, but 2019! I was out of the garden for most of last year, due to a broken ankle. I have yet to catch up on weeding and pruning!

Edit: I have been working on weeding the pathway too...not easy...very hard compacted clay

Wow Evelyn that is a pretty Lilac tree, I don' think I've ever seen a white one.

I have Gulf fritillary laying eggs on my passion vine, I see some caterpillars on it too. I had a huge black Swallowtail yesterday flying all around the garden, but it stayed up high in the trees so I couldn't get a photo of it.

An underneath shot of the Swallowtail

Green lacewings hanging out on the bedroom door

Ginger, Wow that is close, good bug.


A wee little Gulf Frit Caterpillar on my passionvine

Goodness! I lost this thread somewhere along the line. I wondered why no one posted here anymore.

OK! Now I'm watching it again.

Hipanartia bella in my garden

So yall turned me onto to giant pentas. My nursery has one called ruby glow that can grow three to four feet. Its now in my posession.

Beaitiful butterfly, Ceci!
The one Monarch cat I had brought in made it until time to pupate, then when it darkened in an abnormal way, it did not emerge. So sad! The Two-tailed Tiger cat finally pupated. There was still a small American Lady out on the Sweet Everlasting plants last time I looked, so they are still around. The rain we've had lately was much appreciated, as drought had been getting way too bad.

This looks like some sort of day-flying moth. It holds its wings open on the flower. Sorry it is fuzzy...taken with my cell phone.


Can anyone identify it?