PENTAS

Pentas lanceolata is an excellent small shrub for temperate to subtropical gardens, and belongs to the Rubiaceae family of plants and its common name is Egyptian Starcluster. It grows to around 1 m in height, with summer and autumn flowers like neat round bouquets of tiny stars, in colours of red, white, lavender, purple, cerise and various shades of pink. Some have flowers with a white stripes on the petals, and there is a cultivar known as 'Touch of Ice' that has interesting variegated leaves - it is not as robust as most of the others.

Pentas shrubs are at their best in sunny spots but flower reasonably well in part-shade - the red variety is particularly reliable in this regard and is useful for providing a glow of colour in gloomy spots. It is one of the best butterfly-attracting plants around. It blooms all summer long, even during the hottest weather, with large clusters of starry blooms that attract butterflies by the dozens as well as hummingbirds. The plant grows well in containers and in the ground -- and it can even make a good houseplant if you have enough light.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.