Pentas (Egyptian star flower)

Pentas lanceolata · Coffee family (Rubiaceae)

At a glance
Hardiness zones	10 to 11
Sun	full sun to part shade
Water	moderate
Life cycle	tender perennial (grown as an annual)
Frost	Tender: killed by frost
Spacing	12 to 24 inches

About Pentas (Egyptian star flower)

Pentas are bushy plants topped all summer with flat, 3-inch clusters of small star-shaped flowers in red, pink, lavender and white. They are one of the top butterfly plants in extension demonstration gardens, and the red and deep pink ones draw hummingbirds. They take heat and humidity well and keep blooming until frost.

Hardy only in frost-free zones (NC State lists 10-11; UF/IFAS lists 8b-11); everywhere else it's grown as a summer annual.

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Start seeds indoors: 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost
Set out plants: up to 2 weeks after the last frost

NC State says to start seed indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost, but Iowa State notes seedlings need 16 weeks or more to reach a good size, so most gardeners buy plants. Set them out after frost; LSU AgCenter spaces them 12-16 inches apart and UF/IFAS 18-24 inches for mass plantings.

Soil

Well-drained soil rich in organic matter; NC State lists acid soil, and plants should dry a little between waterings.

Plant in a well-prepared, raised bed of well-drained soil with organic matter; follow a soil test before adding fertilizer.

Feeding

During summer, if plants look pale or slow: liquid fertilizer. LSU AgCenter says an occasional liquid feeding can keep plants looking their best; pentas don't need heavy feeding.

Soggy soil causes trouble; water deeply once a week without rain rather than keeping soil wet.

Harvest

Blooms from late spring or early summer until frost (year-round in frost-free areas). Pentas mostly clean themselves up, but snipping faded clusters and lightly pinching leggy stems keeps flowers coming (LSU AgCenter). Cut clusters last 3-5 days in a vase.

Varieties (18)

Variety	Type	Notes
New Look series	Compact
Lucky Star Dark Red	Compact, seed-grown	Red; 17 in tall and 26 in wide in Penn State trials.
Lucky Star Lipstick	Compact, seed-grown	Red; 16 in tall and 29 in wide in Penn State container trials.
Lucky Star series	Compact, seed-grown	10-16 in tall and 12-14 in wide; colors include Lipstick, White Improved, Deep Pink, Lavender, Pink, Violet and Dark Red.
Lucky Star Violet	Compact, seed-grown	Violet; 16 in tall and 27 in wide in Penn State trials.
Glitterati Purple Star	Seed-grown	Purple; 16 in tall and 20 in wide in Penn State trials.
Glitterati Red Star	Seed-grown	Red; 17 in tall and 27 in wide in Penn State trials.
Graffiti 20/20 Flirty Pink	Seed-grown	Pink; 22 in tall and 27 in wide in Penn State trials.
Graffiti 20/20 White	Seed-grown	White; 20 in tall and 29 in wide in Penn State trials.
Starcluster Cascade Red	Trailing	Red; spreading, cascading habit, 28 in tall and wide in Penn State trials.
Butterfly Cherry Red	Upright	Cherry-red flower clusters.
Butterfly Deep Pink	Upright	Deep pink flower clusters.
Butterfly series	Upright	18-24 in tall and 12-18 in wide; colors include Deep Rose, White, Blush, Deep Pink, Light Lavender, Lavender and Red.
Kaleidoscope Appleblossom	Upright
Starcluster Light Pink	Upright	Pink; 15 in tall and 22 in wide in Penn State trials.
Starla Deep Rose	Upright
Sunstar Red	Upright	Red; 21 in tall and 26 in wide in Penn State trials.
Stars and Stripes	Variegated foliage	Bright red flowers over cream-variegated leaves; tolerates heat and humidity.

Pests to watch for

Twospotted spider mite, Aphids

In the kitchen

Pets: We found no ASPCA entry for pentas, so we can't say it is pet-safe; discourage pets from chewing it.

Sources

Photo: Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0). Photo resized for the web.

Planting dates and advice are general guidance; check with your local Cooperative Extension office for your area.