Pentas lanceolata 'Stars and Stripes'

Spice up your container plantings with a new twist on an old favorite. As vigorous as any within the genus, the mottled variegated foliage creates an amazing contrast to the brilliant red flowers. Even out of bloom, it's beautiful, yet it's almost never without flowers. The variegation is exceptionally stable.

Vivid red 3" bloom clusters are borne atop the green, cream, and white variegated foliage from spring to fall on this very attractive upright to rounded shrub-like perennial. A popular butterfly plant, few other plants can compete with it's profuse blooming habits. Give it a rich fertile soil and periodic water during dry spells. The flowers of Pentas will attract butterflies and other nectar loving creatures to your gardens throughout summer. Where not hardy, heat and humidity tolerant Pentas make wonderful annuals for gardens or containers. In the northern portions of their hardiness range provide mulch to help ensure their return for the following season. Pentas are considered to be deer resistant and moderately salt tolerant. The beautiful Stars and Stripes Pentas is another wonderful plant selection made by noted horticulturist and author Greg Grant.