Pentas can be grown as an herbaceous perennial in Zones 10 and 11, and as an annual in less temperate zones. It can also be grown as a houseplant. Its best flowering occurs in full sun, however, it will tolerate some shade. In its growing zones, it will be covered year-round with 3" dense clusters of star-shaped flowers. Popular bedding plant with moderate to high drought tolerance. This plant is seldom damaged by deer. Hummingbirds are attracted to the red variety, their first choice in a garden. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Spider mites and aphids are insects that may affect this plant. Caterpillars may chew on the foliage.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.