Pentas lanceolata ‘Lucky Star Lipstick’
Overview
Uses: Pollinator gardens, sunny borders, patio containers, mixed annual beds, mass plantings, tropical-themed landscapes.
Benefits: Bright red flower clusters with contrasting eyes provide steady summer color. Compact, well-branched growth delivers reliable performance in heat and full sun while attracting butterflies.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10–11 (grown as an annual in colder climates)
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Tender Perennial
Growth Habit: Mounding, Rounded — compact branching form with dense flower clusters.
Bloom Color: Red
Mature Height: 12–16 inches
Mature Width: 12–14 inches
Bloom Season: Late Spring to Frost
Growth Rate: Fast
Summary
Bold red flower clusters bring steady summer color and consistent pollinator activity to sunny garden spaces.
‘Lucky Star Lipstick’ is bred for compact growth and strong branching, forming a tidy, rounded mound covered in star-shaped blooms. The saturated red color holds well through heat and humidity, making it dependable for containers, borders, and mass plantings where continuous color matters.
Butterflies are frequent visitors to the nectar-rich flowers, adding movement and seasonal interest. In frost-free regions, this plant may behave as a tender perennial, while in most climates it is grown as a warm-season annual.
Care
Pentas ‘Lucky Star Lipstick’ Care
Plant in full sun for strongest flowering and compact growth. In extremely hot climates, light afternoon shade can help reduce stress, but consistent sunlight is preferred.
Grow in well-drained soil and maintain even moisture during establishment. Once established, pentas tolerates short dry periods but performs best with consistent watering. Avoid prolonged soggy conditions.
At planting, apply a balanced slow release fertilizer to support steady growth and flowering throughout the season.
Deadheading is optional but can help maintain a tidy appearance and encourage continued bloom production.
Container Growing: Pentas performs exceptionally well in patio containers with high-quality potting mix and proper drainage. Container-grown plants require more frequent watering than in-ground plantings, especially during hot weather. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Pentas ‘Lucky Star Lipstick’ for Sale Online?
Plants are shipped in grower pots and are actively growing at the time of shipment. Size and fullness vary by season, but each plant is well-rooted and established. If you have specific questions about current size or growth stage, please contact us before placing your order.
How Large Does Pentas ‘Lucky Star Lipstick’ Grow?
At maturity, this variety typically reaches 12–16 inches tall and spreads 12–14 inches wide, forming a compact mound covered in blooms throughout the warm season.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
Pentas lanceolata is commonly known as Egyptian Starcluster and is often referred to simply as pentas.
Is Pentas ‘Lucky Star Lipstick’ good for pollinators?
Yes. The nectar-rich, star-shaped flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators during the warm growing season. You can explore more pollinator-friendly selections in our Annuals collection.
Can Pentas ‘Lucky Star Lipstick’ tolerate heat and humidity?
This variety performs reliably in summer heat and humidity when planted in well-drained soil and provided consistent sunlight.
Is Pentas ‘Lucky Star Lipstick’ a perennial?
In USDA Zones 10–11, it may grow as a tender perennial. In colder regions, it is grown as a warm-season annual and will not survive freezing temperatures. In warm-climate landscapes, it also pairs well with selections from our Tropical Plants collection.
