Pentas lanceolataEgyptian Star Cluster

Flat-topped heads packed with small five-pointed flowers give Pentas lanceolata its common name, and in frost-free climates those heads keep coming almost without a break, in red, magenta, pink, lavender or white depending on the selection.

It comes from the highlands of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, which is why it copes with genuine heat, and it stays compact enough at 0.6 to 1.2 metres to be used as bedding, as a low mass or as a container subject.

Specifications

• Height0.6 to 1.2 metres, with the species reaching 1.8 metres
• Width0.6 to 1.0 metres
• Native toEast Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula
• FoliageSoftly hairy ovate mid-green leaves with prominent veining; evergreen in frost-free climates
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilPrefers fertile, free-draining soils
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterModerate; needs regular irrigation to keep flowering
• ClimateThrives in tropical, subtropical and hot climates with irrigation; frost sensitive

Additional Features

• FlowersDense flat-topped clusters of small star-shaped flowers, near continuous in warm climates
• UsesBedding and mass colour, low shrub borders, median and roundabout planting, containers and butterfly gardens
• SpacingPlant 0.4 to 0.6 metres apart for a continuous block
• Low MaintenanceTrim after each main flush to keep the plant compact and encourage rebloom
• Pest ResistanceGenerally sound; spider mite appears in hot dry still air
• Wildlife AttractionOne of the most reliable butterfly plants for hot climates
• Seasonal AppealFlowers across the whole warm season rather than in a single flush

The Egyptian Star Cluster is a dependable source of continuous flat-headed colour in hot climates with irrigation.