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Herbaceous PerennialShrubs

Pentas lanceolata

Egyptian star

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

Other common names

Egyptian star cluster
star cluster

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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

Botanical details

Family: Rubiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
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

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