Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Tree
Origin
Africa, Madagascar
Mexico, Central America
Types
Pentas lanceolata, Pentas ledermannii
Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario
Habitat
Moist Soils, Wet ground, Wet lands
Lowland, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
11-15
Flower Color
White, Red, Purple, Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
Gold, Burgundy, Dark Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green, Dark Green, Pink, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green, Dark Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Broad, Unlobed
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial 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 to stimulate growth, Prune twice a year, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 13-13-13 amounts
Ammonia sulphate, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Borers, Insects, Phytophthora, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas, Wet Site
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
-
Allergy
-
Diabetes, Diarrhea
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Diarrhea, Malaria, Snakebite, To Treat Ascariasis, To Treat Lymphadenitis
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, constipation, High cholestrol, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Root
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Employed in herbal medicine, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making beverages
Used As Indoor Plant
Insignificant
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
PENTAS
THEOBROMA cacao
Common Name
Pentas, Star flower, Star cluster
Cacao, Chocolate, Cocoa
In Hindi
Pentas plant
कोको संयंत्र
In German
Pentas Pflanze
Kakaopflanze
In French
plante Pentas
usine de cacao
In Spanish
planta pentas
planta del cacao
In Greek
φυτό Pentas
φυτό του κακάο
In Portuguese
planta Pentas
planta do cacau
In Polish
Pentas roślin
Kakao roślin
In Latin
Pentas herba
Cocos herba
Phylum
Vascular plant
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Malvales
Family
Rubiaceae
Sterculiaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Knoxieae
Theobromeae
Subfamily
Rubioideae
Byttneroideae
Importance of Pentas and Cocoa Plant
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Pentas and Cocoa Plant. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Pentas and Cocoa Plant 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 Cocoa Plant is Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, constipation, High cholestrol and Wounds. Pentas has beauty benefits as follows: while Cocoa Plant has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Pentas vs Cocoa Plant
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 Cocoa Plant 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 whereas of Cocoa Plant have Diabetes and Diarrhea respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Pentas has no showy fruits and Cocoa Plant has showy fruits. Also Pentas is flowering and Cocoa Plant is not flowering . You can compare Pentas and Cocoa Plant facts and facts of other plants too.