![]() ![]() It’s best to plant pentas in the spring, Pemberton said. The plants perform as annuals in most parts of the state but can be perennial in coastal areas and the Lower Rio Grande Valley where temperatures rarely fall below freezing, he said. Taller types like Northern Lights can reach 24 inches tall and wide, whereas more compact types like the Lucky Star series will be 12 to 16 inches tall and wide. ![]() They tolerate partial shade well, but flowering may be reduced without adequate sun, Pemberton said. In Texas landscapes, pentas prefer full sun with late afternoon shade or at least some shade during the afternoon. Compact types like more recent introductions – Lucky Star and Graffiti 20/20 series – are even more vigorous under hot summer conditions. The Kaleidoscope and Northern Lights series are also taller types that perform well. The cultivar Butterfly Deep Pink was promoted as a Texas Superstar many years ago, and the varieties in the taller Butterfly series are still classics. But all pentas attract butterflies and other pollinators as well as hummingbirds. Overall, Pemberton said the pink and deep pink colors seem to perform the best. “They’re a very versatile, long-lasting plant that can add some pop wherever you might want color.” “They are a great bedding plant, can be used for borders and perform well in containers,” he said. They come in colors ranging from white and lavender to pink, deep pink, rose and red. Pentas, also known as Egyptian Star Flowers, have been a Texas garden favorite for many years, Pemberton said. Texas Superstars must be easy to propagate, which should ensure the plants are not only widely available but also reasonably priced. To be designated a Texas Superstar, a plant must be beautiful and perform well for consumers throughout the state. ![]() “Pentas have a very broad appeal, and more and more varieties have been added to the market, so we want gardeners to know what is available to them now.” “We have an established Texas Superstar, but we want to update the promotion because new colors and new characteristics have been added through breeding over the years,” he said. (Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo by Brent Pemberton) Lucky Star Deep Pink are among penta varieties named Texas Superstars. ![]()
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