Pentas Plants: Colorful Additions To TX Gardens

by Jim Binnings, CCMGA Master Gardener

Every spring I promise myself I will do better and not buy so many plants or make so many trips to my local nursery. I am doing better, but usually, by the end of May, I will notice that I have bought a lot of plants. Is there a twelve-step program for gardeners? Ha Ha! But the truth is this is how I am introduced to new plants. I see a plant at the nursery I have no experience with; I quickly think of a little spot in one of my beds where I could put it, and I’m off to the checkout counter. This year, I had this experience with Pentas plants. And after a long, hot summer in north Texas, I have to say I am glad I picked up one in late spring. Today, October 21, while most of my plants are looking a little leggy, tired, and ready for a break, I have a light lavender-colored Pentas that is great looking. It is three times larger now, looks fresh, and is full of blooms.

Pentas plants are also known as Egyptian Star Clusters. The botanical name is Pentas lanceolata and is in the Rubiaceae family of plants. Here are some quick facts from Erica Puisis of the Spruce:

 

Mature Size:  1-3' tall x 2-3' wide
Sun Exposure:  Full sun     
Soil Type:  Moist and well-drained
Soil PH:  Neutral
Bloom Time:  Summer, Fall
Flower Color:  pink, yellow, purple, white
Hardiness Zone:  Zones 10-11
Native To:  Africa, the Middle East

 

Here are my personal notes. I planted my Pentas in full sun. I can tell the more sun, the better. I have it in good draining soil in a planter. When I transplanted it, I mixed into the soil a high grade (composted at home) organic matter. I watered every three days or so the soil did have a chance to dry out some. I fed it every month or so with water soluble general purpose, fertilizer. And I gave it a trim every now and then to keep its shape as it grew. I keep reading that Pentas plants attract pollinators but I did not see any bees or butterflies around my Pentas plant. I wonder if its color is a factor since insects see colors differently than humans.

After reading more about this great plant, I discovered there are cultivars of Pentas, Texas superstar plants. FYI, Texas Superstars® plants are tested extensively in locations representing the many Texas ecoregions that vary in winter cold, summer heat, and various rainfall amounts. Plant experts from Texas A&M AgriLife, Texas Tech University, county AgriLife Extension horticulturists, the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association and their member plant producers, and the Texas Department of Agriculture all cooperate in evaluating the adaptability of potential Texas Superstars. The cultivar Butterfly Deep Pink was promoted many years ago and the taller type Butterfly series are still classics. The Kaleidoscope series is another taller type that performs well. The Lucky Star and Graffiti 20/20 series, which are more recent introductions with heavy flowering, are more compact types that are still vigorous enough to survive our hot summers. Overall, the pink and deep pink colors seem to perform the best. And all pentas attract butterflies and hummingbirds!

Knowing the cultivar butterfly deep pink is a Texas Superstar, I am going to try and grow them from seed. I’ve noticed that most nurseries depend on their growers for plants, so if I want a particular cultivar, I need to spend a lot of time looking around or buying some seeds to try growing them myself. I’ll need to start the seeds 7–9 weeks before our average last frost (March 12, according to the National Weather Service). I’ve also read that Pentas plants make great houseplants if you have a west- or south-facing window with plenty of sun. Knowing this, I will bring one indoors this fall and see how it does. Pentas are usually grown as annuals, but in warmer, more tropical climates, they can be grown as perennials.

To grow as a gardener, you need to experiment with new plants. There are many ways to experiment with plants that are new to you. Personally, I think reading about plants is a great way to learn about new plants. But in the end, there is no substitute for growing and caring for a plant. So go to your local nursery (ok, maybe wait until spring) and look for an interesting plant you know nothing about. Do a Google search, read about it, buy it, and go home and give it a try. Hopefully, both you and the plant will do some growing.

Interested in other Texas Superstar plants, go to https://texassuperstar.com/ for the current list.