Penta Lanceolata Crimson Star Rooted Cutting Liner

Penta Lanceolata Crimson Star (also known as Egyptian Star Flower or Star Cluster) is native to the Arabian Peninsula and eastern Africa. It has an upright bushing habit and grows 12-24 inches tall and wide. In zones 10 and 11, it can be grown as a tender perennial; elsewhere, Penta is commonly grown as an annual in borders and mixed containers. It can also be used as a houseplant or as a perennial overwintered indoors in colder climates. It offers clusters of small pink, magenta, lilac, purple, red, or white flowers that bloom from early summer to early fall. Penta's leaves are evergreen and it is deer resistant and attractive to pollinators. It pairs well in mixed containers and borders with Angelonia and tall varieties of marigold.

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Lanceolata Crimson Star Selling Tips

Sell Penta to your customers who are looking for a long-blooming annual for mixed containers or borders; in zone 10-11, offer it as a tender perennial. Homeowners with sunny, humid spaces will also enjoy this plant indoors. Penta blooms summer-fall with clusters of small pink, magenta, lilac, purple, white, or red flowers. It also has evergreen leaves in perennial and indoor uses. It grows 12-24 inches tall and wide. It attracts pollinators and is easy to care for. For mixed borders or containers, offer Penta Lanceolata Crimson Star along with Angelonia.

Coach your customer:

1. Plant in well-drained soil in full sun. In landscape applications, space plants 10-15 inches apart.
2. Penta may be grown as a perennial in zone 10-11, or in containers by overwintering indoors. If grown as a perennial outdoors, Penta should be cut back in the spring. If overwintering indoors, cut it back before bringing it inside in the fall; place it in a cool, sunny room and reduce watering.
3. Penta can attrach spider mites and aphids. Coach customers to be on the look out and help them find reasonable treatments like orange oil sprays for home use.
4. Fertilize once a month with flower fertilizer to keep the plant blooming and healthy all summer.

General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner

For best results with Penta Lanceolata Crimson Star, use well-drained soil in full sun with 75-100 ppm nitrogen feed and a pH 6.5-6.8. Plant one plug per 4-inch pot. We recommend spacing containers for airflow. Watch for spider mites, whiteflies, and aphids. Pentas do not require pinching.

Flowering

Penta flowers early summer through early fall.

Pinching

This plant does not require pinching.

Spacing

Space containers 5-7 inches apart for airflow and light penetration.

Height Control

If needed, Penta may respond well to plant growth regulator spray; 2,500-5,000 ppm daminozide, or paclobutrazol at 5-10 ppm, or 3-5 ppm ancymidol.

Pests

You may see aphids or spider mites.

Disease

Penta is not susceptible to any major diseases.

Planting Lanceolata Crimson Star Liners

1. We recommend planting 1 starter plants per 4-inch pot. Use a well-drained soil in your pot and plant your starter plants deep, allowing the ellepot to be completely covered by the soil.
2. In containers, use one starter plant per 2 gallon container should be sufficient if given enough time. If you're short on time, plant 3 plugs in a triangle formation.
3. Penta Lanceolata Crimson Star is a great choice to mix with other plants in larger containers for visual interest.

Rooted Cuttings

Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.

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