Pentas

PENTAS  Pentas lanceolata  (PEN-tas lan-see-oh-LAY-tah)

Family: Rubiaceae (Madder)

Annual - Sun / Part Shade Height 24" — Spread 18"-24” — Spacing 12"-18"

HABIT: Blooms all summer in red, white, lavender, pink and candy stripe.

CULTURE: Easy to grow annual. Plant after frost danger in well-drained soil. Moderate water and fertilizer needs. Best to allow for afternoon shade.

USES: Excellent summer annual. Great for true red color, but available in several colors.

PROBLEMS:  None serious. A favorite of the Tersa moth caterpillar.  

NOTES:  Not widely used but should be. Also called Egyptian star cluster.

Caterpillars of this species of moth pollinators (Xylophanes tersa) feed on plants in the madder family, including pentas

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