Pentas

The Pentas Lanceolata belongs to the Rubiaceae family, also called the coffee family. The Pentas originated in Northeast Africa and Egypt. The word Pentas is derived from Penta, which means five, because of the star-shaped flower. The Pentas come in red, white and pink and is also a great attraction for butterflies.

The Pentas loves the sun. You can place it somewhere in a sunny spot with occasional shade and preferably some protection from harsh winds. The Pentas should be watered regularly, keeping the soil moist. Do not over-water this plant. It should also be fed with fertilizer once a week or more. To avoid the plant using its energy for seed formation, it is best to remove dead flowers. This will redirect the plants energy to forming new buds. The newly formed shoots can be pruned regularly to maintain the plants compact shape. The Pentas is not winter hardy.