Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Herbs, Perennial
Origin
Africa, Madagascar
South-Eastern Asia
Types
Pentas lanceolata, Pentas ledermannii
-
Habitat
Moist Soils, Wet ground, Wet lands
Semi desert, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
9-11
Flower Color
White, Red, Purple, Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Elliptic
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Needs good drainage
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Cut away fading foliage, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 13-13-13 amounts
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Don't use high pH fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Downy mildew, Dry root rot, Rust, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Humidity
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Aphids, Bees, Butterflies, Snails
Allergy
-
Dizziness, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good Cleanser, Good for the Scalp
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Insect Repellent
Medicinal Uses
Diarrhea, Malaria, Snakebite, To Treat Ascariasis, To Treat Lymphadenitis
Antipyretic, Bronchitis, Cough, Digestive disorders, Ear infections, Expectorant, Laxative, Migraines, Piles, Rheumatism, Throat infection, Treating fever
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Root
Bark, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Biomass for fuel, Can be made into a herbal tea, Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used as a laxative
Used As Indoor Plant
Insignificant
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
PENTAS
Justicia adhatoda
Common Name
Pentas, Star flower, Star cluster
Malabar nut, Adulsa, Adhatoda, Vasaka
In Hindi
Pentas plant
अडुळसा, अडुसा
In German
Pentas Pflanze
Indisches Lungenkraut
In French
plante Pentas
Justicia adhatoda
In Spanish
planta pentas
Justicia adhatoda
In Greek
φυτό Pentas
Justicia adhatoda
In Portuguese
planta Pentas
Justicia adhatoda
In Polish
Pentas roślin
Justicia adhatoda
In Latin
Pentas herba
Justicia adhatoda
Phylum
Vascular plant
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Scrophulariales
Family
Rubiaceae
Acanthaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Knoxieae
Justicieae
Subfamily
Rubioideae
Acanthoideae
Season and Care of Pentas and Malabar nut
Season and care of Pentas and Malabar nut is important to know. While considering everything about Pentas and Malabar nut Care, growing season is an essential factor. Pentas season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Malabar nut season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Pentas is Loam and for Malabar nut is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Pentas is Acidic, Neutral and for Malabar nut is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Pentas and Malabar nut Physical Information
Pentas and Malabar nut physical information is very important for comparison. Pentas height is 243.84 cm and width 91.44 cm whereas Malabar nut height is 460.00 cm and width 20.00 cm. The color specification of Pentas and Malabar nut are as follows:
Pentas flower color: White, Red, Purple and Pink
Pentas leaf color: Green
Malabar nut flower color: White
- Malabar nut leaf color: Dark Green
Care of Pentas and Malabar nut
Care of Pentas and Malabar nut include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Pentas pruning is done Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch Tips, Prune in spring, Prune in summer, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves and Remove hanging branches and Malabar nut pruning is done Cut away fading foliage, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves. In summer Pentas needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Malabar nut needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.