Variety Profile: Pentas
lanceolata
Pentas, or Egyptian Star
Flower as it is more commonly known, is a versatile annual variety
that thrives throughout the United States. Its popularity has
grown in recent years, but it is still one of the most underutilized
annuals on the market. Star-shaped florets form large, 4-6"
flower clusters in a rainbow of colors and shades. Pentas
flowers cover the plant from spring through first frost.
Pentas thrive in sunny conditions, and they love heat and
humidity. The hotter the better for these beauties!
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FEATURES
· Heat
Tolerance
· Free Flowering
Habit
· Summer Long
Color
·
Attracts
Hummingbirds
and Butterflies
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BENARY PENTAS VARIETIES
Pentas 'Graffiti' series: Bred to be naturally compact and well branched, 'Graffiti' requires no growth regulators to finish. Reaching heights of 12-15", the 'Graffiti' series is perfect for the landscape or in mixed combination planters. Pentas 'Northern Lights Lavender' Truly a breeding breakthrough, Northern Lights Lavender performs throughout the country! This new hybrid is free flowering and self-cleaning, offering large flower blooms throughout the summer. Tolerant to cooler temperatures in the North, but able to withstand the rigorous heat of the South, Northern Lights is a wonderful addition to the landscape. Pentas 'Kaleidoscope' series The Kaleidoscope series was bred with landscape performance in mind.
More vigorous than the 'Graffiti' series, the 'Kaleidoscope' series reaches heights of 18-24" in the landscape. When planted en masse, 'Kaleidoscope' provides vibrant, striking color that doesn't fade, even in the middle of the summer! 'Kaleidoscope' performs so well in fact, that Jimmy Turner at the
Dallas Arboretum awarded the series with the Rising Star Award. His motto: "If we can't kill it, no one can!" is a wonderful assessment of how good the 'Kaleidoscope' series really is. For more information on this award, log on to: http://www.dallasplanttrials.org/articles1.htm
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Graffiti Mix |
Northern Lights
Lavender |
Kaleidoscope
Mix |
HELPFUL TECHNICAL HINTS
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pH |
Temp. |
Light
Levels |
Fertilizer
rates |
| Germination |
6.6-7.0 |
75-80F |
light required |
|
| Plug
Culture |
6.8-7.0 |
70-75F |
1000 - 2500 f.c. |
50-150 ppm NO3 Nitrogen |
| Growng On |
6.8-7.0 |
65-70F |
2500 f.c. |
100-150 ppm NO3
Nitrogen |
Pentas roots release hydrogen ions
into the soil, which will drop the pH. Maintain pH levels
between 6.8-7.0 to avoid Magnesium deficiencies or Iron
toxicity. Overwatering can delay flowering.
© 2008 Ernst Benary of Amercia Inc.
http://www.benary.com
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