General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 12 to 36 inches
Plant Spread: 18 to 24 inches
Leaves: Evergreen
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Lavender
Mauve
Pink
Red
White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Groundcover
Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Star Flower
  • Egyptian Star Cluster

Photo Gallery
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2018-08-10
Location: Lake Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia
Date: 2018-03-01
Location: CA
Date: 6/16/2020
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-08-05
#Pollination - Zebra Longwing
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-09-26
#Pollination
Location: Botanical Garden of Berlin
Date: 2022-06-08
Location: Botanical Garden of Berlin
Date: 2022-06-08
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-08-28
#Pollination - Spicebush Swallowtail
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-05-22
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2019-05-04
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-03-06
#Pollination - Monarch Butterfly

Date: Summer 2011
Gulf Fritillary Butterfly enjoying nectar #Pollination
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-09-13
#Pollination
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2017-03-20
Four year old bush, bright pink
Location: Kew Gardens, London, UK.
Date: 2022-08-31
Location: My backyard
Date: October 5, 2007
Red Star Flowers
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-02-06
#pollination   2 kinds of Hawkmoths
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (Belgium)
Date: 2017-02-11
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-09-09 
Spicebush Swallowtail's enjoying the nectar.
Location: Temple, Texas
Date: 2021-07-24
Drawing butterflies daily.  Today, they pulled in an ORANGE drago
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2013-05-22
This is a deep scarlet red penta that grows tall, easy to propaga
Location: central Illinois
Date: fall 2006
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2014-07-30
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2015-07-06
Pentas lanceolata, mixed colors
Location: Temple, Texas
Date: 2020-05-26
2nd year plant in full sun all day long.
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (Belgium)
Location: Temple, Texas
Date: 2019-10-01
First season pale lavender specimen.
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 6-2004
My yard
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 6-2004
My yard
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2013-01-18
I have no idea what cultivar most my pentas are, but this deep pi
Location: SE Michigan
Date: 2017-08-12
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-06-18 
White blooming variety with a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird en
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-03-29
#Pollination
Photo by Danita
Location: Lake Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia
Photo by Hamwild
Location: Lake Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia
Date: 2014-01-08
Location: Temple, Texas
Date: 2019-09-01
First season specimen.

Date: 2021-08-08
Location: WG front garden
Location: central Illinois
Date: 9-19-14
Location: Botanical Garden Berlin
Date: 2017-01-07
Photo by Dinu
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
Date: 2018-06-26
Location: Courtyard 
Date: 2008-0719
Location: Aberdeen, NC (my garden 2023)
Date: April 18, 2023
Star Flower # 207 nn; LHB p. 931, 187-16-1; MBG, "Genus name come
Location: Botanischer Garten Berlin
Location: Botanischer Garten Berlin
Date: 2023-05-11
Location: Lake City, FL
Date: 2017-07-31
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (Belgium)
Date: 2017-02-11
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: October 20, 2011
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-09-28
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2012-03-22
Location: Sangamon Co. Il.
Date: 2017 (fall)
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 6-2004
My yard
Location: In my 8A garden.
Date: 2017-06-21
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-07-10
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2009-12-09

Date: 2011-12-18
Location: Coastal San Diego County 
Date: 2018-06-28
Location: SE Michigan
Date: 2017-08-12
Location: Coastal San Diego County 
Date: 2018-06-28
Location: Botanical Garden Berlin
Photo by Danita
Location: Lake Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia
Date: 2014-01-08

Date: Sep 28, 2011 5:20 PM
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
Date: 2018-08-27
Location: South Florida
Date: Spring 2012
This one is a butterfly magnet.
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-09-13
w/ Sulphur
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2013-05-16
This plant grows and blooms year round in Florida. A great nectar
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2015-07-06
Pentas
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-10-16
Location: Courtyard 
Date: 2008-0719
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2012-09-23
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Date: April 7, 2012
Pentas
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2012-03-22
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennet Square, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2019-07-06
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-07-10
Location: Lake Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia
Date: 2014-01-16

Date: October 13, 2011
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-10-22 
Photo taken at Washington Oaks State Park, Palm Coast, Florida
Photo by Dinu
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-09-22 
Pentas are Butterfly magnets! Seen here is the Spicebush Swallowt
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-04-26
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-04-26
Newly planted
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-09-22

Date: August 29, 2011
Pink Star Flowers
Location: Container, back patio
Date: August 29, 2011
Close up of bloom
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-07-03
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: October 20, 2011
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2012-03-22
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2013-01-18
Butterfly magnet, makes great photo opportunity. These bloom all
Location: Coastal San Diego County

Date: Sep 28, 2011 5:21 PM
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-11-03
Location: Neighbor's garden
Date: 2016-12-22
This plant is tagged in:
Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

Comments:
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 19, 2011 4:18 PM concerning plant:
    Pentas come as both upright plants reaching 3 to 4 feet in height, as well as dwarf varieties that attain a low, mounding form. In warm climates Pentas are fast growing, constantly blooming perennials. They are grown as annuals in northern areas. Pentas prefer full sun and are more prolific bloomers when in a sunny location, but they will also do fine in a partially shaded area of the garden, just with fewer blooms. Pentas attract both butterflies and hummingbirds.

    Although I haven't noticed hummingbirds visiting the Pentas in my garden, they are absolute butterfly magnets! I've grown the white, light pink, dark pink and red varieties and the red is definitely my favorite!
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on Apr 28, 2013 1:28 AM concerning plant:
    Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P...

    "Pentas is a genus of the Rubiaceae family of flowering plants. Pentas lanceolata is a particularly popular species. The plants have dark green, lance-shaped, somewhat furry and deeply veined leaves providing a backdrop for prolific clusters of never-ending, five-petaled flowers. These may be red, white, lavender, purple, or shades of pink. Some are two-toned. Pentas are attractive to butterflies, and hummingbirds. They are used in pots, baskets, and borders, where they can withstand full sunlight and need little to no care, growing even in locations that are dry and hot.[1]"
Plant Events from our members
kytnbabe On May 26, 2017 Obtained plant
I found Pentas at Sanders Nursery in Paducah KY again this year , but in a lovely rosy pink.
MunchkinsMom On July 12, 2016 Bloomed
MunchkinsMom On July 12, 2016 Transplanted
Red, White & Blue Pot
MunchkinsMom On June 21, 2016 Obtained plant
Burpee - 3 plants for $13.96 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" pot
piksihk On September 17, 2020 Bloomed
WG front
WebTucker On April 17, 2023 Obtained plant
WebTucker On April 17, 2023 Bloomed
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Untitled by Marilyn Nov 28, 2011 2:35 AM 1

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page

Today's site banner is by SongofJoy and is called "Blue Pansies"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.