Pentas

Pentas is one of the best butterfly-attracting plants around. It blooms all summer long, even during the hottest weather, with large clusters of starry blooms that attract butterflies by the dozens as well as hummingbirds. The plant grows well in containers and in the ground -- and it can even make a good houseplant if you have enough light. It does best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Pentas is grown as an annual in most parts of the country, but it's hardy in Zones 10-11. Plant it outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

10-11

Plant Type:

Annual,Perennial

Plant Height:

To 4 feet tall

Plant Width:

To 3 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Privacy,Slopes,Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers,Attracts Birds,Attracts Hummingbirds,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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'Butterfly Light Lavender' pentas

Pentas 'Butterfly Light Lavender' bears lavender-pink flower heads on compact 14-inch-tall plants.
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'Graffiti Bright Red' pentas

Pentas 'Graffiti Bright Red' bears large clusters of rich-red flowers on dwarf 12-inch-tall plants.
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'Graffiti Lipstick' pentas

Pentas 'Graffiti Lipstick' is adorned by clusters of bright rosy-pink flowers on compact 12-inch-tall plants.
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'Graffiti Pink' pentas

Pentas 'Graffiti Pink' bears big heads of pink flowers on 12-inch-tall plants.
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'Graffiti Red Lace' pentas

Pentas 'Graffiti Red Lace' bears large heads of red flowers with white centers on 1-foot-tall plants.
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'Graffiti White' pentas

Pentas 'Graffiti White' bears large flower heads of pure-white blooms on 12-inch-tall plants.
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'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom' pentas

Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom' shows off clusters of soft-pink flowers through the summer. It grows 18 inches tall.
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'Kaleidoscope Deep Red' pentas

Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Deep Red' is an especially showy selection with clusters of rich-red flowers all summer long. It grows 18 inches tall.
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'Kaleidoscope Pink' pentas

Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Pink' bears large clusters of soft-pink blooms on 18-inch-tall plants.
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'New Look Pink' pentas

Pentas 'New Look Pink' bears light pink flowers on 12-inch-tall plants.
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'Northern Lights Lavender' pentas

Pentas 'Northern Lights Lavender' is a large selection that's been bred to tolerate cooler temperatures. It offers lavender-pink flowers on a 4-foot-tall plant.
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Garden Plans

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Pondside Garden Plan
Summer Butterfly Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Lantana

Multicolor lantana flowers add bright shades to pentas -- and both plants are butterfly magnets.

Salvia

Both pentas and salvia love hot weather and are surefire picks for butterflies and hummingbirds. Upright salvia looks great planted with the mounding habit of pentas.

African marigold

Complement pentas' bright flowers with bold yellow marigolds for a big-impact, low-care combination.

Propagation

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Stem Cuttings