Description
Pentas are heat-tolerant, star-shaped flowers that bloom in clusters of red, pink, white, and purple, known for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds and thriving in full sun to partial shade.
Plant Details
Botanical Name: Pentas lanceolata
Host Plant to: Butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinators
Nectar Plant to: Monarchs, Swallowtails, bees, and many others
Plant Life Cycle: Tender perennial (grown as annual in most zones)
Light Requirements: Full sun preferred, tolerates some partial shade
Soil Type: Well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic to neutral
Moisture Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil; drought-tolerant once established
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11 (grow as annual elsewhere)
Plant Height: 18–24 inches
Plant Spacing: 12–18 inches
Bloom Time: Spring through fall
Bloom Color: Red, pink, lavender, and white clusters
Special Features: Attracts butterflies, heat-tolerant, excellent in containers
Description
I’ve planted pentas in places where nothing else wanted to grow, and they just kept going. Doesn’t matter if it’s dry or hot — they hold their own. Bright colors like red, pink, and purple show up in little clusters, and the butterflies seem to find them fast.
You don’t need to do much with them, which is the best part. Penta flowers are happy in the ground or a pot, near the porch or out by the mailbox. I’ve even seen them do great in hanging baskets. They’ve got these star-shaped blooms that kind of sparkle when the sun hits just right.
In warmer places, they’ll come back. In cooler zones, they finish after one season. Either way, they’re worth it. A few penta mix flowers close together and you’ve got a patch that looks like a mini wildflower meadow. If you’re just starting out or want something you won’t kill by accident, this is a solid pick.
