Pentas really work!

12 years ago

After reading the praises of the Penta's over the last couple of years by Miss Sherry, and many others, I ordered from a suggested source...Almost Eden.

The plants, shipping and packing were superb!

I ordered one of each of the colors that were in stock at the time and they have performed beautifully. While these are tropical/near-tropical perennials that would probably have to be grown as annuals in my zone 7 garden, they flourished when grown from the plants furnished by ALMOST EDEN. I strongly recommend them right along with Lantana's and Buddleia's as especially fine nectar plants for your butterflies even in more northerly climes.

The plants are identified as "Penta...followed by the specific color" and are all Penta lanceolata.

Penta-Lavender was observed to be the most popular with the butterflies.

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Penta-White was a stunning bloom!

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Penta-Stars and Stripes is a red with variegated foliage.

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Penta-Rose is a truly hot-pink and the bush has served as a host for a Monarch chrysalid.

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The Penta-Red was also a successful nectar plant.

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Penta-Lavender

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My favorite, Penta-Blush

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Bob

Comments (8)

bandjzmom
12 years ago
Beautiful Pentas Bob. Terrific photos,as always. Oddly, I don't have much luck attracting butterflies with them here. I have some red ones this year, and I'm still waiting for them to be noticed.
JamesY40
12 years ago
Bob, very nice photos.James
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roper2008
12 years ago
They are beautiful penta's bob. I am hoping to get some in my
garden next year. When I was in maneo, NC , I took a picture
of these penta's. The swallowtails were all over it. Of course I
only got one butterfly in the picture.
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tomatoworm59
12 years ago
Man! I want a Pentas patch like Ropers! I'll be the Queen of Xylophanes! LOL!
klflorida
12 years ago
Wow Bob, pretty pretty pretty. The white on black is sure striking.

I just filled my garden with red and purple pentas so I'm hoping for some butterfly activity. They are also a host plant for the Sphinx Moth (hummingbird moth.)
flutterby64
12 years ago
I agree, Bob. Pentas are wonderful nectar plants. I've been growing them for 10 years, and they are second only to my 'John Fanick' phlox in sttracting butterflies. In my garden, the 'Butterfly' series has been the best performer. These are tall, floppy plants that are close to the species and therefore, provide more nectar than more hybridized varieties such as the short, compact 'Graffiti'.

This year I did a little experiment to see which colors are most attractive to butterflies. I planted several colors: 'Butterfly' Deep Pink, White, Blush, Light Lavendar and Lavendar Shades. Light Lavendar by far attracted the most butterflies. Below is a link to a thread that I found VERY helpful regarding pentas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pentas
Tony G
12 years ago
Nice pentas Bob and Roper,

I added some red pentas this year but the only thing I saw nectaring on them was hummingbirds (and not very often)

Mine are short because they have to be grown here as an annual. That probably makes a difference.

I will try again next year and hope for a warmer spring. We lost out on all of our early swallowtail action this year because of our cold spring.

Glad to see your success though! Tony
MissSherry
12 years ago
Beautiful pictures, Bob!
I'm glad they're drawing in the butterflies for you - they sure do here!
Sherry