Pentas lanceolata

RHS Plant Profile

Egyptian star

Other common names

Egyptian star cluster, star cluster

Herbaceous Perennial Shrubs

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A tropical evergreen woody-based perennial or sub-shrub, to 2m high, with glossy, hairy, lance-shaped green leaves with deeply impressed veins. Dome-shaped clusters of flowers, with long tubes and spreading, star-shaped petals in shades of pink, purple and white, are produced from spring to autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Rubiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

In frost-free areas, may be grown outdoors in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. In colder areas, grow in a temperate greenhouse, or in containers that can be moved indoors over winter, in peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added leaf mould and sharp sand. Minimum temperature 7°C

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown at 16-18°C in spring, or by softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Conservatory and greenhouse
Cut flowers

Pruning

Pruning group 9 in late winter. Plants grown under glass may need restrictive pruning

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free