Do you want to invite butterflies in to visit? Or maybe you just want
some great summer color from a reliable perennial. Well, look no further
than your local garden center for the red hot pentas.
Pentas (Click to Enlarge)
Photo by Tom MacCubbin
Not that long ago this was an all but
forgotten flower growing tall, lanky and out of control. But new dwarf
varieties have made pentas practical for the small gardens, border
plantings and containers. You can also choose from a wide assortment of
colors including pinks, reds, purples, whites and some bicolors.
Pentas like the full sun to lightly shaded locations. Also make sure you
give them a planting site with a lose enriched soil. Set the plants in
the ground at the same depth as they were growing in their containers.
Give dwarf varieties an 18- to 24-inch spacing and full size selections
a 24- to 36- inch spacing. Plantings are relatively care free but
here are some tips to obtain the best growth.
Add a 2- to 3-inch mulch over the root
systems.
Feed monthly with a general garden
fertilizer or use a slow release product following label instructions.
Trim off old flower heads to encourage
new blooms.
Stake tall plants as needed to prevent
wind damage.
Periodically prune tall growing
selections to keep them in bounds and compact.
