Life Span
Annual and Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Grass
  
Origin
Africa, Madagascar
  
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
  
Types
Pentas lanceolata, Pentas ledermannii
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Moist Soils, Wet ground, Wet lands
  
meadows, Prairies, Riverbanks, Roadsides, Woods
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
2-7
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
7 - 1
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Not Available
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Red, Purple, Pink
  
Purple
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Tan
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Blue Green, Burgundy, Bronze
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Tan, Sandy Brown
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
  
Grass like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Summer, Fall, Winter
  
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
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
  
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Medium
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
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, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 13-13-13 amounts
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Not Found
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Birds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Ground Cover, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Food for animals, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Diarrhea, Malaria, Snakebite, To Treat Ascariasis, To Treat Lymphadenitis
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Root
  
Leaves, Stem
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Decoration Purposes, Food for animals
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Insignificant
  
Insignificant
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
PENTAS
  
ANDROPOGON gerardii
  
Common Name
Pentas, Star flower, Star cluster
  
Big Bluestem, Turkey Foot
  
In Hindi
Pentas plant
  
Big Bluestem grass
  
In German
Pentas Pflanze
  
Große Bartgras
  
In French
plante Pentas
  
Barbon de Gérard herbe
  
In Spanish
planta pentas
  
hierba andropogon grande
  
In Greek
φυτό Pentas
  
Big BLUESTEM γρασίδι
  
In Portuguese
planta Pentas
  
Vetiver grande grama
  
In Polish
Pentas roślin
  
Big Bluestem trawa
  
In Latin
Pentas herba
  
Big bluestem herba
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Vascular plant
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Lillosida
  
Order
Gentianales
  
Poaceae
  
Family
Rubiaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Pentas
  
Andropogon
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Knoxieae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Rubioideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available