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Pentas lanceolata

Egyptian star-cluster

Rubiaceae

Eastern Africa and Arabian Peninsula

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Pentas lanceolata is an evergreen subshrub usually grown 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall in gardens, reaching 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) in frost-free tropics, with an upright, bushy, somewhat soft-stemmed form. The leaves are lance-shaped to oval, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, green, hairy, and prominently veined. Dense, dome-shaped clusters 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) across hold many small star-shaped, five-lobed tubular flowers in red, pink, white, lavender, or magenta, depending on the form. Flowering is more or less continuous in warm weather, slowing only in cold or short days. The flowers draw butterflies and hummingbirds. Growth is fast in heat and humidity, and plants bloom within a few months of planting. In zones 10-11 it persists as a perennial; elsewhere it is grown as a warm-season annual or container plant, as it is killed by frost below about 32 F (0 C). It is sensitive to cold, soggy soils, and prolonged drought.

Native Range

Native to eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, from Sudan and Ethiopia south through Kenya and Tanzania. Grows in open woodland, grassland, and rocky slopes, and is widely grown as a garden plant in warm climates.

Suggested Uses

Planted in warm-season beds, borders, butterfly and pollinator gardens, and containers at 12-18 inch (30-45 cm) spacing. Grown as a tender perennial in zones 10-11 and as an annual or container plant in cooler regions. Used in mixed plantings where its flower clusters draw butterflies.

How to Identify

Identified by dense, dome-shaped clusters 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) across of small star-shaped, five-lobed tubular flowers in red, pink, white, or lavender. Leaves are lance-shaped to oval, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, hairy, and prominently veined. Plants form an upright, bushy subshrub with soft stems.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~26 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowers nearly continuously in warm weather, spring through fall in temperate gardens and much of the year in frost-free climates. Bloom slows in cold weather and short days. Removing spent flower clusters keeps new clusters forming.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Red, pink, white, or lavender

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grown in full sun to part shade on moist, fertile, well-drained soil; plants flower most heavily with steady moisture and warmth. Soggy soils cause root rot, while prolonged drought and cold check growth and bloom. Watering is regular during the growing season, allowing the surface to dry slightly between waterings. Deadheading spent clusters prolongs flowering through the season. In containers it grows in a rich, free-draining mix and is fed during active growth. Aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies can appear on stressed or indoor plants.

Pruning

Pinch young plants to encourage branching and more flower clusters. Deadhead spent clusters through the season to keep new bloom coming. Cut back leggy stems by a third in spring to renew compact growth in perennial climates.

Pruning Schedule

early spring