The height of your pentas will depend upon the cultivar, but you can count on anything from 2 to 4 feet. I find that deadheading increases the number of blooms, but they'll flower pretty much constantly until frost, regardless.

Wait 'til you see how the butterflies and other pollinators like it!

I googled it and saw that it could get tall, but all the references seemed to be from the south where it could overwinter in the ground, and was actually a perennial in warm zones. They are about 10 in tall now, which was the biggest "wow" annual I could find for these big containers. So maybe 2 feet in my zone, you guess? IÂm starting to think maybe IÂll want to dig these up in the fall and bring them inside for the winter.

I grow a LOT of good butterfly and bee plants. It wasnÂt planned that way, just happened. I think it adds to the enjoyment of the garden. I get great photos without even trying because I see so many. There are almost no gardeners in my neighborhood. IÂm surprised sometimes at the amazing butterflies I have; donÂt know how they manage to find me. Must be word of mouthÂ!

I was just looking at Park Seed's selection of Pentas and was reminded that many of the newer cultivars are much shorter than the typical. They describe them at less than 10 inches! What a fun addition for my landscaping, but maybe not what you wanted for your containers. I hope that you end up with exactly what you hope for, though.

I'm smacking myself for not growing any of these this year, but I'll sure order some seed this winter!

Here is a link that might be useful: Aren't these luscious?

Best get me to the garden center before theya re all gone....if theya ren't already gone...
I forgot too...
And pentas and ageratum blue horizons are dyn-o-mite together!

Pentas are a riot of color and a real eye catcher. The last two years I have tried to carry them through the winter in my unheated greenhouse, without success. They don't seem to tolerate night time temperatures of less than 50 degrees. Al

Pentas are tender perennials in my garden near the Florida line -- most of the time.

Pentas may or may not survive in the ground here when the temps briefly reach about 22 degrees in the winter.
I think four of five red resprouted this spring, both the rose color plants came back and the pale pink did not.

I carried cuttings over through the winter in my barely heated greenhouse. They don't care for the cool temps, but
they will survive IF they root before it got really cold. It's kind of hit and miss, the rooting, so I take many more than I expect to keep.

{{gwi:11348}}
Last summer's pentas, zinnias and porterweed in the butterfly garden. Red pentas to the left, Rose in the center near view.

Nell

Here is a link that might be useful: Some of my Pentas Babble

Pentas are, indeed, one of the very best annuals for hot weather climates. And yet, they are not commonly grown here. Such a shame!

Linnea, I think you can expect about two feet from yours. That's the max we usually get here even with our very long, very hot summers. Pentas are disease resistant, insect resistant, the blooms are self cleaning, and they just keep coming right until frost. Great looking dark green foliage too. I have never tried to overwinter them, nor have I tried them from seed. Al's comment makes me think seed might be an option for you.
Rhizo, it's true that pentas are available in smaller cultivars, but my experience with them has been no where near as good as with the taller ones. The foliage doesn't hold up as well, the flower colors aren't as rich, and somehow the blooms look out of proportion to the short plant to me. (I'm nothing if not opinionated.:) Anyway, if the larger ones are available, go for them. The reds and deep roses are the loveliest, to me. (There's goes the opinions again! :)