Pentas are a Florida favorite, and our gardens are full of the pink, red, lavender, and white 5-lobed flowers (thus, the name pentas).  The heat and humidity may be affecting many of the plants in our gardens, but pentas flourish in this environment.  They can take full sun (where they bloom best), but are ok in partial shade.  

Did you know the white pentas are a host plant for a particular wasp that feeds on mole crickets? What a great way to keep those mole crickets in check and add a Florida-friendly plant to your garden! You may notice the occasional ants or aphids on the flowers.  Usually, spraying with water is enough to control. But an insecticidal soap also works. Pentas can be propagated by cutting a flowerless stem, removing leaves at the bottom, and dipping it in rooting medium before inserting it in soil.  In our climate, pentas are perennials, so they are a good choice to plant once and enjoy over several seasons.  Pentas can survive hot conditions, but appreciate the occasional watering when it hasn’t rained in a while. A monthly fertilizer application will help keep these flowers in top condition.