Egyptian Star Cluster
Pentas lanceolata
Egyptian Star Cluster produces dense, flat-topped clusters of tiny five-pointed star-shaped flowers in red, pink, white, or lavender, and it blooms almost non-stop in warm conditions. Your plant works equally well as a houseplant in a sunny window or as a patio container plant in summer, and it has the practical advantage of being a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds without being toxic to your pets. In warm climates it can reach 4 to 6 feet as a shrubby perennial; in cooler zones it performs as a vigorous annual.
How to grow Egyptian Star Cluster
full sun (6 or more
Keep soil consistently moist but
95%
Prefers warm temperatures (70-85F /
Well-draining, fertile soil with a pH of 6.
Stem tip cuttings of 4
Insufficient light is the main
Fun Facts
The genus name Pentas comes from the Greek word for 'five,' referring to the five-pointed star shape of each individual flower — and the species name lanceolata means 'lance-shaped,' describing the leaves rather than the blooms.
Pet safe
Non-toxic to cats, dogs, and humans. The fine leaf hairs may cause mild skin irritation in highly sensitive individuals during heavy pruning, but the plant poses no serious toxicity risk.
Sources
- How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Pentas - Epic Gardening (opens in new tab)Reference
- How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Pentas - Epic Gardening (opens in new tab)Reference
- Pentas lanceolata (Egyptian Star Flower) - Gardenia (opens in new tab)Reference
- Pentas lanceolata (Egyptian Star Flower) - Gardenia (opens in new tab)Reference
- Pentas lanceolata - Wikipedia (opens in new tab)Reference
- Pentas lanceolata - Wikipedia (opens in new tab)Reference
- Pentas lanceolata Pentas, Egyptian Starcluster - University of Florida IFAS Extension (opens in new tab)University Extension
- Pentas lanceolata Pentas, Egyptian Starcluster - University of Florida IFAS Extension (opens in new tab)University Extension
- Pentas, Butterfly - University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension (opens in new tab)University Extension
- Pentas, Butterfly - University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension (opens in new tab)University Extension