If you’re looking for a flower that can handle the West Texas heat while still putting on a colorful show, pentas may be one of the best choices for your garden. These bright, star-shaped flowers bloom from spring until frost and are loved by butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
Pentas, sometimes called “Egyptian Star Flowers,” come in shades of pink, red, lavender, and white. Their clusters of tiny flowers stand out in flower beds, containers, and pollinator gardens. In Abilene and other West Texas areas, pentas have become a popular warm-season plant because they continue blooming during the hottest part of summer when many flowers begin to struggle.
Texas A&M AgriLife and the Texas Superstar® program recognize several pentas varieties for their excellent performance in Texas landscapes. According to Texas Superstar®, pentas are highly heat tolerant, pest tolerant, and low maintenance.
One reason gardeners love pentas is how well they attract pollinators. Butterflies especially seem drawn to the nectar-rich blooms. Hummingbirds and bees also regularly visit the flowers throughout the growing season. Because of this, pentas are often planted in butterfly gardens and pollinator beds.
In West Texas, pentas perform best in full sun, although Texas A&M notes that some afternoon shade can help during the hottest summer days. Good drainage is important, especially in heavier soils. Adding compost or organic matter can help plants establish more quickly and continue blooming through summer.
Pentas are also great for containers on patios or porches. Their nonstop blooms provide bright color all season long with relatively little care. Regular watering and occasional fertilizer applications help keep the plants healthy and flowering heavily through fall.
Whether planted in a flower bed, pollinator garden, or container, pentas can add months of color to West Texas landscapes while supporting butterflies and other helpful pollinators.
The Big Country Master Gardener Association presents free education programs every month. There is a program at 6:00 p.m. on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the Abilene Public Library South Branch in the Mall of Abilene, and the same program is presented again at 10:00 a.m. on the 2nd Friday of the month at the Abilene Public Library’s new main location inside Heritage Square. We also have a Master Gardener Saturday Seminar from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on the last Saturday of the month from February through August in the Taylor County Extension Office Conference Room.
We are here to help you. If you have any questions, call the Taylor County Extension Office at 325-672-6048 or email us at bcmgardeners@yahoo.com. We hope you will visit our Facebook page, our website at bcmgtx.org, and the BCMGA YouTube channel for all Big Country Master Gardener information, events, and training.