Egyptian Star Cluster
Pentas lanceolata ‘New Look Red’
(PEN-tass) (lan-see-oh-LAY-tuh)

The name of this plant sure sounds exotic. It is a lovely and underused annual. I guess it does over winter to the south of here. After growing it for a couple of years, I didn’t get any this year. I must not have seen it at the right time. My cultivation memories of this plant are good ones. It does not get too tall or big, and fits nicely in front of the border. It mixes well with other summer annuals. I tend to like the brighter colors of this plant, like this red, but it also comes in pink, white, and violet. The red types also attract hummingbirds and butterflies.