Habitat:
Pentas lanceolata is native to tropical East Africa, including Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen (Socotra and southwestern Arabian Peninsula). It grows in open woodlands, grasslands, rocky slopes, and scrubby hillsides, usually from sea level to 1,800 metres. It is especially common in disturbed habitats, road margins, and seasonal dry areas, where it benefits from full sunlight and well-drained soils. It is now widely naturalised and cultivated in tropical and subtropical gardens globally.
Description:
Pentas lanceolata is a perennial subshrub or small shrub, typically growing 50–90 cm tall, occasionally taller in wild conditions. It has opposite, lanceolate to ovate leaves, measuring 4–12 cm long and 1–4 cm wide, with prominent veins and hairy surfaces. The stems are green to reddish, softly hairy, and branched. Inflorescences are dense terminal cymes, composed of numerous five-petalled tubular flowers, each about 1.5–2.5 cm long. Flower colour is variable, commonly red, pink, lilac, purple, or white, with cultivars selected for richer tones. The corolla tube is long and narrow, well adapted to butterfly pollination. Fruits are small capsules containing numerous minute seeds. While superficially similar to Hamelia or Bouvardia, it is distinguished by its hairy stems, clustered cymes, and long floral tubes.
Cultivation:
Grow Pentas lanceolata in full sun to light partial shade. Daytime temperatures should remain between 22–30 °C, with nighttime lows of 15–20 °C. It prefers well-drained, loamy soil with moderate fertility and a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0–7.2). Water regularly during hot weather, allowing the topsoil to dry slightly between waterings. Reduce watering in cooler seasons. Prune regularly to encourage bushiness and remove faded blooms. Fertilise every 4–6 weeks with a balanced fertiliser. It can be grown as an annual in temperate climates, but is perennial in frost-free zones.
Specifications:
Plant Size: established plants imported as adults and growing in pots
Plant Family: Rubiaceae
Plant Passport: Pentas lanceolata B 140084 C [user input] D GB