Pentas lanceolata 'Touch of Ice'

Pentas lanceolata 'Touch of Ice'

Pentas or Egyptian Star Cluster, as they are sometimes known, are great summer shrubs as they attract butterflies and are continually in flower.

Normally they grow to about a metre and will tolerate a full sun position or in the case of this cultivar with its cream and grey variegated leaves, a shady spot would be ideal. Being fairly soft wooded they can be easily damaged by wind and may become straggly with age so they often need to be replaced after a couple of years. Fairly easy to grow from cuttings, it is best to keep a couple of plants on a patio over winter to be planted out in spring .Some of the other colours worth trying are the 'Candy Pink' variety with its bright pink striped flowers and 'Buderim Blue' which has a striking blue mauve flower.
2017 update: I lost this form during a cold winter. Variegated plants can sometimes be less hardy than green forms.