Stars and Stripes in the Garden

In honor of Independence Day, today’s blog will focus on Stars and Stripes. Pentas lanceolata ‘Stars and Stripes’™ is cold-hardy down to 20 degrees, so it is perennial only in zones 9b and warmer. I grow it as a annual in zone 7b.

Solid green leaf Pentas are available in red, pink, lavender, rose, purple, and white. The common name, Egyptian Star Flower, is a good description of the clusters of tubular nectar-rich blooms that attract hummingbirds, bees, and numerous butterflies. ‘Stars and Stripes’ has bright red blooms, and the green and white variegated foliage is outstanding.

I first saw Stars and Stripes in a local botanical garden, where the horticulturalist paired it with ‘Hot Lips’ Salvia. The combination of red and white Salvia blooms paired with the variegated foliage and red blooms of the Pentas was a clear winner. It impressed me enough to repeat the combination in my own garden, although now I allow the Pentas to take center stage without competition from the bushy Salvia.

Pentas lanceolata (pronounced PEN-tass lan-see-oh-LAY-tuh) are heat lovers that do well in either flower beds or containers. They look super when planted in masses. They are relatively drought tolerant, but those in containers may need irrigation in the hottest, driest months. They prefer a pH neutral soil. Plants bloom throughout the summer, even more prolifically when dead-headed.  They are compact growers, reaching up to 24 inches with an equal spread. Should they ever get unwieldy, they can be pruned and will bunch obligingly.  Pentas prefer full sun but will survive in part-sun, although the stems may flop a bit. The ‘Graffiti’ and ‘Lucky Stars’ series are both shorter, reaching 16 inches or less.

The only weakness I have found is that the stems are somewhat brittle, so you should plant them in an area where they won’t be damaged by high winds or when the family dog exhibits an enthusiastic case of the “zoomies.” (Dog owners know what I mean. For the uninitiated, some dogs tend to run in circles, full-speed with wild abandon, for no apparent reason, leaving a wake of plant destruction.)

As an added bonus, deer ignore Pentas.

Stars and Stripes, blooming in time for July 4 celebrations.

One of the non-variegated types.
The Lucky Stars penta series has a compact growth habit and vibrant colors as seen in this Lucky Star lavender. (Photo by MSU Extension/Gary Bachman)

A mass planting of pentas. Photo used with the kind permission of The Neighborhood Nursery, 131 Woods Road, Fountain Inn, SC. Please support your local nurseries! @TheNeighborhoodFarmSC

Buffet for the Butterflies

As you plan your spring flower garden, please consider planting something that will nourish butterflies.  Here are my favorites: Milkweed (all varieties), Bee Balm, Cosmos, Zinnia, Yarrow, Shasta Daisy, Joe Pye Weed, Coneflower, Verbena, Lantana, Butterfly Bush, Parsley, Queen Anne’s Lace, Mexican Sunflower, Butterfly Bush. 

Keep in mind that ALL butterflies start out as caterpillars. Don’t be quick to squash them or spray them with toxic poisons, or you may be killing off the next generation.

Interesting factoid: Pipevine Swallowtails and Monarch caterpillars and butterflies are toxic. A bird that has gobbled one down likely won’t eat another. Viceroy butterflies are not toxic, but they have evolved to closely resemble the Monarch. It’s a defense mechanism to avoid being eaten.

Quick ways to distinguish a butterfly from a moth: Butterflies rest with their wings together, over their backs. Moths rest with their wings open, flat. Butterfly antenna are club-like, with a swollen tip. Moth antenna are like feathers. Butterflies have thin bodies, while their moth cousins have thick bodies.