Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Herbs
Origin
Africa, Madagascar
Europe, Asia
Types
Pentas lanceolata, Pentas ledermannii
Not Available
Habitat
Moist Soils, Wet ground, Wet lands
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
3-7
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
7-1
Sunset Zone
21,22
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Not Available
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Purple, Pink
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Arrowhead
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
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
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
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 13-13-13 amounts
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Frost
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
Allergy
Not Available
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Diarrhea, Malaria, Snakebite, To Treat Ascariasis, To Treat Lymphadenitis
Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Root
Whole plant
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Making Perfumes, Making Shampoo, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Medicinal oil, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
Insignificant
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
PENTAS
NEPETA cataria
Common Name
Pentas, Star flower, Star cluster
Cat Nip, Catnip
In Hindi
Pentas plant
कटनीप
In German
Pentas Pflanze
Katzenminze
In French
plante Pentas
cataire
In Spanish
planta pentas
Catnip
In Greek
φυτό Pentas
Είδος δυόσμου
In Portuguese
planta Pentas
catnip
In Polish
Pentas roślin
Kocimiętka
In Latin
Pentas herba
catnip
Phylum
Vascular plant
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Lamiales
Family
Rubiaceae
Lamiaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Rubioideae
Nepetoideae
Importance of Pentas and Catnip
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Pentas and Catnip. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Pentas and Catnip as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Pentas is Diarrhea, Malaria, Snakebite, To Treat Ascariasis and To Treat Lymphadenitis whereas of Catnip is Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines and Upset stomach. Pentas has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Catnip has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Pentas vs Catnip
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Pentas vs Catnip and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Pentas are Not Available whereas of Catnip have Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Pentas has no showy fruits and Catnip has no showy fruits. Also Pentas is flowering and Catnip is not flowering . You can compare Pentas and Catnip facts and facts of other plants too.