ペンタスは星のような形の花です。花言葉も星にちなんで「願いごと」「希望が叶う」。花が長く、多く咲くので、蝶類が好んで訪花します。
Pentas is a flower shaped like a star. The flower language is also named after the stars, “wishes” and “hopes come true.” Butterflies prefer to visit because the flowers are long and bloom a lot.
【仮名】ペンタス, クササンタンカ
【和名】草山丹花
【英名】Pentas, Egyptian Starcluster
【学名】Pentas lanceolata
【誕生】06/ 15, 06/ 26, 09/ 16, 11/ 05
【開花】05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11月
【花色】White, Pink, Red, Purple
ペンタス
ペンタスの自生
ペンタスはアカネ科の常緑低木。アフリカ東部から中東のイエメンにかけての熱帯で自生しています。アゲハチョウやツマグロヒョウモンなど蝶類が好んで訪花。暑さに強いだけでなく、花数が多く開花期間も長く、丈夫で育てやすいため、バタフライガーデンにも取り入れられます。
ペンタスの名前
ペンタスの名前は学名に由来し、ラテン語で「５つ」という意味。これは花弁が５枚で、星のような形の花だからです。そのため、花言葉も星にちなんで「願いごと」「希望が叶う」。一方、ペンタスの和名「草山丹花」の由来は同じアカネ科のサンタンカに姿形が似ているからです。
ペンタスの栽培
ペンタスは過湿に弱く、風通しと日当たりの良い場所を好みます。根腐れを起こさないよう、水はけのよいところに植え付け、灌水は土が乾いているのを確認してから。密植で灰色かび病や立枯病などの病気、カイガラムシなどの害虫が発生しないよう、株と株の間を十分に空けます。
ペンタスの増殖
一方、ペンタスを挿し木で増やすときは土が乾かないように注意。まだ暑くない３～４月頃、10cmくらいの長さに切った枝を用います。赤玉土や鹿沼土などの培土に植え付け、日光が直接あたらないように寒冷紗などで被覆。約1カ月後、十分に根が出たら鉢や花壇に植え替えます。
Pentas
Pentas native
Pentas is an evergreen shrub of the family Rubiaceae. It grows naturally in the tropics from eastern Africa to Yemen in the Middle East. Butterflies such as swallowtail butterflies and Indian fritillary prefer to visit flowers. Not only is it resistant to heat, but it also has a large number of flowers, a long flowering period, is strong and easy to grow, so it can be incorporated into butterfly gardens.
Pentas name
The name of Pentas is derived from the scientific name and means “five” in Latin. This is because it has five petals and is shaped like a star. Therefore, the flower language is also named after the stars, “wishes” and “hopes come true.” On the other hand, the origin of the Japanese name “Kusa Santanka” of Pentas is that it resembles the same Rubiaceae Santanka.
Cultivation of pentas
Pentas is vulnerable to over-humidity and prefers a well-ventilated and sunny place. Plant in a well-drained area to prevent root rot, and make sure the soil is dry before irrigation. Leave enough space between the plants to prevent diseases such as Botrytis cinerea and wilt, and pests such as scale insects from dense planting.
Proliferation of pentas
On the other hand, when increasing pentas with cuttings, be careful not to let the soil dry. From March to April, when it is not hot yet, use branches cut to a length of about 10 cm. It is planted in hilling soil such as Akadama soil and Kanuma soil, and covered with a lawn cloth to prevent direct sunlight. After about a month, when the roots are fully rooted, replant them in pots or flower beds.
