Egyptian star cluster (Pentas lanceolata) profile

Egyptian star cluster (Pentas Lanceolata) is native to tropical Africa or cultivated. Egyptian star cluster is a perennial grass flower that can withstand drought and high temperature. It has a long flowering period, including pink, crimson, peach and white flowers.

Egyptian Star Cluster is a perennial herbaceous flower of Rubiaceae. General plant height is 30 cm to 40 cm, stem upright, branching force is strong, opposite leaves, lanceolate, leaf tip acuminate, 6 cm to 8 cm long, top birth cybel-shaped inflorescence, florets were tubular, flower color 5 crack into the five-flower horn star, hence the name of the five-star flower. egyptian star cluster has dozens of clusters, very beautiful and pleasing to the eye. egyptian star cluster is native tropical Africa or cultivation, for perennial perennial grass flowers, drought resistance, high temperature resistance, lasting flowering, pink, crimson, peach, white and other colors.

Egyptian star cluster picture

Egyptian star cluster info

   

Botanical Name	Pentas lanceolata
Common Names	Egyptian Star Cluster, Pentas, Pentas Flower
Plant Type	Perennial
Sun	Full sun to partial shade
Hardiness Zones	6–11
Flower color	Red, pink, lavender, or white
Native Area	Africa
Mature size	24–36 inches

Morphological characteristics of the Egyptian star cluster

Features: the floret was tubular, corolla five cracks were star - shaped and so named.

Branches: branches green brown, with fine white fuzz. Egyptian star cluster is strong, good drought resistance.

Stem of Egyptian star cluster is erect, green, brownish near the base, branches covered with white hairs.

Leaves: simple, opposite, long lanceolate, entire, papery, petiolate, green, well indented, scabrous, pinnate.

Flowers: Cymes, stem terminal, small star-shaped, tubular, composed of a dozen small star-shaped globules.

Color: red, purple, pink, white and so on.

Flowering: Spring, summer and autumn.

Fruit: capsule membranous, small seeds, about 35000 / g.

Egyptian Star Cluster is generally 30-40cm high, with erect stems, strong branching, opposite leaves, lanceolate, acuminate leaves, 6-8cm long, cymbel terminal inflorescence, tubular florets, flower color 5 split into flower horn star, hence it is named Egyptian Star Cluster.

Ecological habits of the Egyptian star cluster

Egyptian Star Cluster likes high temperature and grows at an appropriate temperature of 25 ~ 30℃. It is suitable for growing in sandy soil rich in organic matter. Egyptian star cluster needs good drainage and is well developed in both full and half sunshine.

Warm and sufficient sunshine are conducive to the growth of the Egyptian Star Cluster. During the growth period, it is advisable to keep the night temperature above 17-18℃ and the daily temperature above 22-24℃. Temperatures below 10℃ will cause irregular flowering and delay or hinder the opening of flowers.

The seeds of the Egyptian Star Cluster are very small, so they are often planted in hole and dish. The usual seeding medium is a humus-rich, well-drained, sterile medium with a pH value of 6.5-6.8 and an EC value of 0.75ms/cm.Sow in hole tray, 1 seed per acupoint. The size of the hole should be 1.5-2 cm. The seed begins to germinate about 10-14 days after sowing, and the appropriate temperature is 23-26℃. The seed germination needs light and cannot be covered. During germination, it is necessary to water sufficiently to accelerate the dissolution of the outer layer of powder flowers and promote germination.

The Egyptian Star Cluster is fond of bright light. After germination, the seedlings are exposed to sunlight as soon as possible, so as not to grow unefficiently and promote the rapid growth of the plants.

How to grow and care for Egyptian star cluster

Light Care

Every plant has to reach a strict level of light for good photosynthesis to take place. The flowering of the Egyptian Star Cluster is directly related to the amount of light it absorbs. The Egyptian Star Cluster won't flower or grow if it doesn't get the level of light it needs.

Temperature Care

Most plants have a favorable temperature for their growth. The Egyptian star cluster 'Northern Lights' can adapt to both hot and cold conditions. It performs very well in both the north and south. In addition, the Aurora Borealis can adapt to low pH values.

Moisture Care

The Egyptian Star Cluster can still display perfect plant shape and bright flowers in the hot and dry climate in summer.

Secondly, the choice of raw materials and plants is crucial. When choosing ornamental plants for garden use, choose those varieties that are strong in growth and have a proven track record of garden performance. For example, for an all-around Egyptian Star Cluster that decorates the garden with large blocks of color throughout the summer, the 'Mural' species is the best choice. Colorful and colorful 'murals' with a height of about 30 cm are suitable for planting in flower beds or mixing containers. What need emphasizes is, of gules white edge 'mural' expressive effect is the most outstanding, bright-colored gules flower and ablaise white stigma, look like a floating lace on flower, give a person very strong visual wallop. For large-scale landscaping, the Egyptian Star Cluster 'Kaleidoscope' can become a summer garden necessity. The kaleidoscope's tall landscape series is colorful, dense and strong, with crowns ranging from 35 cm to 40 cm in length, which continue to grow throughout the summer to fill in the color of the larger scenic spots. Flower clusters cover the plant from the beginning of summer until the first frost.

Soil Care

Egyptian star cluster appreciate a mildly acidic soil pH in the range of 6.0. Amending the soil with compost or leaf mold can increase the acidity of your soil if it’s on the alkaline side.

Water Care

Egyptian star cluster need regular irrigation to stay healthy; keep the soil moisture about the same as a wrung-out sponge. pentas tolerate dry conditions, but drought-stressed plants are susceptible to spider mite infestations. Avoid regular overhead watering to prevent unsightly brown spots on the foliage.

Disease control of Egyptian star cluster

The main pests and diseases of the Egyptian Star Cluster are grey spot, red spider, grey mould, whitefly and aphids. Preventive measures include keeping cultivation sites clean, using sterile soil, growing media, and pots.

Symptoms and control of whitefly and grey mould:

Whitefly

Symptoms: the young leaves of the plant turn green and yellow, and eventually the whole plant wilts and dies.

Method of prevention and cure

(1) Use the "insect-proof net" to block the invasion of external pests.

(2) Thoroughly fumigate the cultivation place and remove weeds before cultivation.

(3) Spray 2.5% Kung Fu 2500-3000 times solution or 20% Mansoli 2500-times solution on the whole plant.

Mould

symptoms: Due to the rainy season more wet or excessive watering is caused. At the beginning of the stem, leaf margin produced water stains like brown spots, gradually expanding so that branches, leaves rot. When air humidity is larger, the disease department often appears gray moldy.

Method of prevention and cure

(1) Keep the cultivation medium semi-dry, do not overwater, and strengthen the ventilation of the cultivation place.

(2) Disinfect the culture media thoroughly.

(3) Before cultivation, the site should be disinfected with chlorothalonil tobacco agents at a dose of 200g/mu. After cultivation, it should be continuously carried out once every 10 days.

(4) When the disease came on, the whole plant was sprayed with 1500-fold solution of 50% pylorhydine or the whole plant was sprayed with 2000-fold solution of Rheumatoxus.

Species classification of the Egyptian star cluster

At present, the varieties of the Ethiopian Star Cluster (Pentas Lanceolata) in the market include "New Elephant", "Butterfly", "Northern Lights", "Kaleidoscope" and "Xingle".

New image series

It is the first potted flower of Egyptian Star Cluster series propagated by seed. The plant height is 20-25 cm, and the growth temperature is 20C ~ 30C. It has good branching and compact plant type. The scattered inflorescences are filled with star-shaped florets, which are refreshing. Very heat resistant, drought resistant, widely used in potted flowers, also suitable for flower beds, balconies and landscape layout. The colors are pink, purple, red and white.It takes about 4 months from sowing to flowering.

'Newlook' is 20 cm to 25 cm under the plant, loose in plant shape, well branched and short in plant.Inflorescences nocturnal and scattered, stems 6 cm to 8 cm, can be annual flowering, do not need to open a recuperative. This kind is relatively resistant to water logging and is widely used in potted plants. The color has pink black, black, Mei black, purple black, black war mixed positive color.

Madame Butterfly Series

Fertility robust, adaptable. Plant height 30 cm, high temperature season can grow up to 50 cm.Flowers large, many, cymes up to 7 -- 10 cm in diameter. There are red, bright pink, cherry red, thick peach, light purple and other colors.

Kaleidoscope series

Kaleidoscope for tall culm, early mature variety, plant shape compact full. Potted plants are short internodes, but grow strong when removed from beds or large containers, with long and dense branches.Large, showy flowers, like hot and sunny environments. The colors are apple blossom, magenta, heavy red, lavender, deep rose, pink and mixed colors. Hybridized first generation species, plant height about 40 ~ 45cm, early flowers, colorful flowers, good seed quality, high germination rate, suitable for flower arrangement.

The height of kaleidoscope is about 45 cm, which is the higher in the Egyptian Star Cluster. The crown is about 50 cm, the plant form is compact and full, the branches are long and dense. Tianhui Garden Flower Research Institute, a Beijing flower and tree company that has been growing the Egyptian Star Cluster for years, said Kaleidoscope was the best performing of the varieties it tried.

The kaleidoscope has bright mouth - shaped inflorescence, the seed is hybrid F1 generation, germination rate and maturity are better than other varieties on the market. It can also be used as a pot plant, such as in a large container in a flowerbed. The internodes are shorter than those grown in the ground, between 30 and 35 centimeters high. Potting works well because of its double-petal, flower-rich nature. But out of the container, the growth becomes stronger.

At present, the main problem of the promotion of Egyptian Star Cluster is that the seeds are a little expensive, and it is difficult to promote it as an indoor potted flower, because the flowering period and shelf life of Egyptian Star Cluster will be shortened when it is placed indoors because it likes light and heat. But as a heat-resistant flower, it is highly recommended. At present, 'kaleidoscope' seed retail price at about 0.6 yuan a single seed, deep red, magenta, light purple and other 6 colors.

The mural series

The plant is about 30 cm below, except for the night flowers, the flowering period is less, the shaking land is used in the garden and the window sill flower bed, and the planting environment is like the sunshine and true war and hot war. The color is bright black, purple green, heart black, pink black, red black edge, rose black, purple black, black war mixed positive color. Large, long blooming, suitable for gardens, windowsills and flower beds, sunny and warm growing conditions.

Northern Lights Series

The traditional Egyptian Star Cluster is drought resistant and heat resistant. The disadvantage is that it is not resistant to cold weather and has small flowers. The Northern Lights is the only one on the market that can also be grown in the Northern part of the country.

Pentas Northern Lights® Lavender Egyptian Star Cluster Aurora Boreal Mauve

Plant height: 50-55 cm

Growth period: 14-18 weeks Yang Yang

Description: Breeding Breakthrough!The aurora borealis continues to grow and bloom in cooler temperatures. Large, blooming clusters of flowers are self-cleaning and continue to add color throughout the summer. Low pH sensitivity.

Star series

Pentas Starla Egyptian Star Cluster Series

Character description: selected heat resistant varieties. Plant height 35 ~ 40 cm, vigorous growth, strong branching; Strong vitality, can resist the pressure of hot conditions in the south, even in high temperature and humidity conditions, still can grow luxuriant, blooms constantly, is a flower bed, flower mirror and potted flower varieties; There are 6 colors of apple, light pink, deep rose, light blue, pink, red, white and 3 kinds of mixed colors. Its consistent growth habits and compact flowering periods surpass those of other competing series.

Container size: 10-15cm or large container

Distribution area of the Egyptian star cluster

Egyptian Star Cluster is native to tropical Africa and Arab region.It is cultivated in the south of China.

The purpose of the Egyptian star cluster

Landscape uses

The Egyptian Star Cluster has a variety of colors, such as white, peach and pink, and its flowering period lasts for up to six months. It is a beautiful flower plant and suitable for cultivation in various plant areas. It is particularly common in many provinces of China and is the most attractive plant landscape in scenic spots.

Potted ornamental

Egyptian Star Cluster can also be made into potted plants and placed indoors, which can add beautiful colors to the indoor environment and also bring a thick natural atmosphere to the indoor environment. Egyptian Star Cluster is suitable for people's balconies or windowsills. It not only beautifies the environment, but also plays a role in purifying the air. Egyptian star cluster can decompose and absorb a variety of harmful substances in the air during breathing, so that people can breathe purer air.

The economic value

The Egyptian Star Cluster (Pentas Lanceolata) has a very important economic value. This plant can be cultivated into different series, among which "Madame Butterfly" is a rare variety. This variety is sold at a high price in the market, which can bring high economic income to the flower growers who cultivate it.