If you like perennial plants that flower almost all-year
round, you may be interested in pentas. Named after the Latin word for
“five” due to the five-petalled flowers, pentas have bright flowers that
attract butterflies, hummingbirds and on-lookers alike. While also called
Egyptian Star Clusters, these originally east African plants grow great in our
area. Useful in planters, as cut flowers, in hanging baskets and as
accent plants, pentas may have a place in your landscape.
Pentas lanceolata, or just plain pentas, is really an
evergreen shrub that can grow up to three-feet tall. There are other
varieties to choose from including low-growing and mounding types of about
fourteen-inches in height. Larger types can get so tall that they can
actually fall over. Colors range from red, white, lavender, purple and
pink. The red and darker pinks types are particularly attractive to
hummingbirds. The fuzzy haired leaves frame the tubular flowers that are
grouped together in large clusters. In fact, one plant can have upwards
of twenty clusters of flowers at a time. Pentas should be planted in a
full sun to part shade location with well-drained soil. Although full sun
will promote the most flowers, pentas can actually produce some flowers
with as little as three hours of sun per day. Mulch to conserve moisture,
but don’t plant pentas in sites where soggy soil can be a problem. Plant
on eighteen to twenty-four inch centers when installed for mass
plantings. One convenient characteristic in the management of
pentas involves their ability to self-deadhead. Ordinarily, many
flowering plants require removal of old flower heads in a process known as
“deadheading”.
Plant pentas in combination with lantanas, ixoras, blue
salvias, or in front of other evergreen shrubs such as hollies, ligustrum, wax
myrtles or junipers for a stunning landscape feature. An added bonus - as
cut flowers, pentas can last up to five days in a vase. Use this plant in
combination with summer annuals as a subject for containers. Pentas are
perhaps the most popular flowers in the garden as far as butterflies are
concerned, so if you are into butterfly gardening, this is a popular nectar
source. Pentas can be easily propagated by rooting cuttings or from seeds.
If you like plenty of flowers on a perennial plant, try
pentas. For more information on all types of flowering plants suitable
for our area, please call our Master Gardener volunteers on the Plant Lifeline
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening
help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Don't forget
to visit our other County Plant Clinics in the area. Please check this
link for a complete list of site locations, dates and times - http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/Plant%20Clinics%20Schedule.pdf.
Resources:
Gilman, E. F. & Shiffit, S. (2014) Pentas
lanceolata Pentas. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Christman S. (1997) Pentas lanceolata
Floridata. Tallahassee, FL.
Klingaman, G. (2002) Plant of the Week: Butterfly
Pentas. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
Winter, N. (2005) Southern Gardening – Choose Pentas for
Outstanding Color. University of Mississippi.
Rodriguez, D. (2006) Butterfly Pentas. Texas A&M
University System, Texas Cooperative Extension Service.
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