Pentas lanceolata Graffiti Selected Mix

Pentas lanceolata Graffiti Selected Mix Seeds

(Egyptian Starflower)

Pentas lanceolata Graffiti Selected Mix is part of the Graffiti series — an F1 hybrid Pentas bred by Benary and recognized as the earliest, most uniform, and most compact Pentas series commercially available. The Graffiti series offers the widest color range in any Pentas line, and the Selected Mix represents a curated selection of the most intense and harmonious colors from across the full Graffiti palette.

Pentas lanceolata is commonly known as Egyptian Starflower, a name that captures the distinctive shape of its blooms. Each individual flower is a small, precise five-pointed star, and these stars are produced in large, tightly packed domed umbels up to 6–8 cm across, held on upright stems above the dark green foliage. The flower heads are produced continuously and abundantly throughout the growing season, making Pentas one of the most reliably free-flowering bedding plants available.

Graffiti Selected Mix includes intense shades of red, pink, rose, lavender, violet, and white, all displaying the same compact plant height, uniform flower head size, and simultaneous bloom timing that defines the Graffiti series. This uniformity — all colors reaching the same size and blooming at the same time — makes Graffiti Selected Mix particularly valuable for professional landscape use and mixed container displays.

Pentas lanceolata Graffiti thrives in full sun and warm temperatures. It is exceptionally heat tolerant and performs outstandingly in Gulf conditions, unlike many other annuals that struggle with summer heat. Graffiti is a day-neutral plant, meaning it flowers regardless of day length. This makes Pentas lanceolata Graffiti Selected Mix suitable for year-round garden use in the Gulf, provided temperatures remain warm. Pentas is also one of the most effective butterfly and hummingbird attracting plants available in the annual category.

Variety Details

• Series: Graffiti Selected Mix
• Breeder: Benary
• Hybrid type: F1
• Common name: Egyptian Starflower
• Flowering type: Day neutral — flowers regardless of day length
• Heat tolerance: Exceptional
• Germination requirement: Light required — do not cover seeds

Key Features

• F1 hybrid by Benary — earliest, most uniform and compact Pentas series on the market.
• Widest color range in any Pentas series — intense reds, pinks, lavender, violet, and white.
• Large domed star-shaped flower heads up to 6–8 cm across, continuously produced.
• Day-neutral flowering — blooms regardless of day length, suitable for year-round Gulf use.
• Exceptional heat and sun tolerance — thrives in Gulf summer conditions.
• Outstanding pollinator magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds.
• Compact uniform habit of 30 cm — ideal for containers, borders, and landscape use.
• All colors bloom simultaneously at the same size — ideal for mixed professional displays.

Plant Information

• Height: Approx. 30 cm
• Spread: Approx. 28 cm
• Plant type: Perennial in zones 10–11, grown as annual in cooler climates
• Hybrid type: F1
• Flowering: Day neutral — continuous throughout the season
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil, pH 6.2–6.5
• Water: Moderate — allow to dry slightly between waterings
• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart

Seed Germination

• Seed depth: Surface sow only — do NOT cover seeds
• Germination time: 7–10 days
• Ideal germination temperature: 23–26°C
• Important: Pentas lanceolata Graffiti seeds require light to germinate. Seeds must be surface sown and left uncovered.
• This is the opposite of many other annual flowers.
• Maintain very high humidity of 95–100% for the first 10 days.
• Keep germination media consistently moist using tempered water at minimum 18°C. Media temperatures below 16°C will inhibit germination.

Growing Tips

• Sow Pentas lanceolata Graffiti Selected Mix seeds on the surface of a sterile, moist seed-starting mix at pH 6.2–6.5.
• Do not cover seeds as light is required for germination.
• Maintain 95–100% humidity and a temperature of 23–26°C for the first 10 days.
• Expect radicle emergence in 7–10 days.
• Once cotyledons are fully expanded (around day 14), temperature can be lowered slightly to 22–23°C during the day and 18–20°C at night.
• Move seedlings to bright light as soon as they emerge.
• Providing 14–16 hours of daylight during the seedling stage will significantly shorten the time to flowering.
• Transplant when seedlings have developed 2 sets of true leaves.
• Space plants 25–30 cm apart in a sunny, well-drained position with fertile soil at pH 6.2–6.5. Monitor soil pH closely as Pentas is sensitive to iron toxicity below pH 5.5 and micronutrient deficiency above pH 7.0.
• Feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer, alternating between calcium-based formulas under lower light and higher-nitrogen formulas under strong sunlight.
• Maintain good air circulation and allow media to dry slightly between waterings to support healthy root development.
• Deadhead spent flower clusters to encourage continuous new bloom formation.
• Pentas lanceolata Graffiti Selected Mix thrives in hot conditions and is an excellent performer throughout Gulf summers and winters alike.

Gulf Planting Season

• Suitable for year-round cultivation in the Gulf due to heat tolerance and day-neutral flowering.
• Recommended main sowing periods: August–September (for autumn establishment) and February–March (for spring and summer display).
• Transplanting: 6–8 weeks after sowing.

Garden and Floral Uses

• Year-round Gulf Garden bedding and borders
• Containers and decorative pots
• Pollinator gardens — exceptional for butterflies and hummingbirds
• Landscape mass planting
• Mixed combination containers
• Window boxes and patio displays