Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Annual or Biennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Vegetable
Origin
Africa, Madagascar
Mexico, Central America
Types
Pentas lanceolata, Pentas ledermannii
Mexican potato,Mexican yam bean
Number of Varieties
300-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Moist Soils, Wet ground, Wet lands
agricultural areas, Moist Soils, Wet ground
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-8
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
-
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
243.84 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
91.44 cm50.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Red, Purple, Pink
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Dry soil, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Keep ground moist
In Summer
Lots of watering
Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch Tips, Prune in spring, Prune in summer, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove hanging branches
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 13-13-13 amounts
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Beetles, Leaf spot, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas, Shallow soil
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Butterflies, Mice
Allergy
-
Irritation to stomach, Itchiness
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Improve skin tone
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for animals, Soil protection
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Diarrhea, Malaria, Snakebite, To Treat Ascariasis, To Treat Lymphadenitis
Cold, Fever, Inflammation
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Root
Bulbs, Root
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
PENTAS
PACHYRHIZUS erosus
Common Name
Pentas, Star flower, Star cluster
Mexican Yam bean
In Hindi
Pentas plant
Pachyrhizus erosus
In German
Pentas Pflanze
Yambohne
In French
plante Pentas
Kłębian kątowaty
In Spanish
planta pentas
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Greek
φυτό Pentas
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Portuguese
planta Pentas
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Polish
Pentas roślin
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Latin
Pentas herba
Pachyrhizus erosus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Vascular plant
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Gentianales
Fabales
Family
Rubiaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Pentas
Pachyrhizus
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms
Tribe
Knoxieae
-
Subfamily
Rubioideae
-
Number of Species
82100
1
27800
👆🏻