Egyptian Star

Pentas lanceolata 'Starcluster Lilac' is a compact flowering houseplant grown for its domed heads of small, star-shaped lilac flowers. It blooms over a long season and does well on a bright windowsill, where the soft mauve flowers sit against fresh green leaves. Butterflies and bees are drawn to it outdoors in summer.

Origins

The species comes from tropical East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where it grows as an evergreen, woody-based perennial. It belongs to the Rubiaceae family, the same group as coffee and gardenia. In the UK it is sold as an indoor or conservatory plant because it needs warmth through the year and will not cope with frost.