Lucky Star® Lipstick Pentas

Lucky Star® Lipstick is a compact, upright Pentas lanceolata with a fast succession of flowering flushes. PanAmerican Seed gives this named selection a height of 12–16 inches and width of 12–14 inches, flowering in late spring and summer; its quick follow-up bloom keeps color coming through the season. ## Planting and Use Choose a sunny position in a container, mixed planter, border, or landscape bed. The compact growth habit makes it useful where a steady display of flowers is wanted without a large footprint. Trial descriptions vary between red and rose for the flower tone, so the catalog records this color descriptively as rose-red rather than assigning a narrower color category. ## Growing Conditions UF/IFAS describes Pentas lanceolata as suited to full sun or light shade and fertile, well-drained soil with regular moisture. PanAmerican’s Lucky Star series is noted for tight habit, fast follow-up blooms, and low-effort presentation; Ball Seed’s product facts also list medium water needs, heat tolerance, and attraction to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Sources: [PanAmerican Seed Lucky Star® Lipstick](https://www.panamseed.com/Products/048007736002969/pentas-lucky-star-lipstick/); [Ball Seed product facts](https://www.ballseed.com/PlantInfo/?phid=048007736002969); [Penn State flower trial](https://agsci.psu.edu/flower-trials/trial-year/2019/plant-name/pentas-lucky-star-lipstick-seed); [UF/IFAS Pentas lanceolata](https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP465). ## Maintenance Water regularly, allowing excess water to drain from the root area. Remove spent flower clusters to keep plants tidy, though the variety is bred for quick follow-up flowering. In regions with winter freezes, grow it as warm-season color or protect container plants from frost.