Known commonly as Starflowers, these clusters of blooms are more often known by their botanical genus Pentas. From the Greek word for ‘five’, pentas usually bear five petals on each flower.
As far as non-native nectar plants go, this is a fantastic plant with is wildly attractive to butterflies. Pentas come in a huge variety of flower colors and sizes from low and mounding to tall and leggy shrubs. In the Tampa Bay area pentas are generally perennial unless we have a particularly harsh winter.
Pentas can thrive in most light conditions from sun to shade although they will bloom better in more sunny areas and they prefer soil conditions moist to average. If you are looking for a definite butterfly favorite to help jumpstart a butterfly garden, pick up a few pentas which are sure to be a hit with your local bugs.
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