Life Span
Annual and Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Origin
China
  
Africa, Madagascar
  
Types
Not Available
  
Pentas lanceolata, Pentas ledermannii
  
Habitat
Lowland, shaded fields, Shaded sites, Slopes, Subtropical climates
  
Moist Soils, Wet ground, Wet lands
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-99
  
10-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
21,22
  
Habit
Oval or Rounded
  
Not Available
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
White, Red, Purple, Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
  
Tan
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval
  
Egg-shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water deeply about once a week
  
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Do not prune during shooting season, No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads, Shape and thin as needed
  
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
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 13-13-13 amounts
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Bees
  
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
  
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants
  
Diarrhea, Malaria, Snakebite, To Treat Ascariasis, To Treat Lymphadenitis
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
  
Flowers, Leaves, Root
  
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for fragrance, Used for producing cooking oil, Used as a spice
  
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
OSMANTHUS delavayi
  
PENTAS
  
Common Name
Sweet Olive
Tea Olive
Fragrant Olive
  
Pentas, Star flower, Star cluster
  
In Hindi
चाय ओलिव
  
Pentas plant
  
In German
Tea Olive
  
Pentas Pflanze
  
In French
Tea Olive
  
plante Pentas
  
In Spanish
té verde oliva
  
planta pentas
  
In Greek
τσάι Ελιάς
  
φυτό Pentas
  
In Portuguese
Tea Olive
  
planta Pentas
  
In Polish
Herbata z oliwek
  
Pentas roślin
  
In Latin
Tea Olive
  
Pentas herba
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Vascular plant
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Lamiales
  
Gentianales
  
Family
Oleaceae
  
Rubiaceae
  
Genus
Osmanthus
  
Pentas
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Knoxieae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Rubioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available