[Uptown Girl]

The dwarf Pentas I have suffered greatly with the last cold spell. They were watered and covered (they are planted along with sedum in insulated plant containers) but the garden covers I used evidently were of poor quality. When I uncovered them, there was frost on the Pentas inside.

Up until now, they were glorious and in full flower. Now, I would say the crowns are 90% damaged.

For those of you who have been here longer than I, can you advise me what to do now?
I don't know how long these plants are viable under good conditions. Do you keep them for more than a year, typically? I am thinking they are perennials here, but does that mean everlasting, for many years?

My thought now is to leave them as is (crinkly tops, but still alive) until the last frost date, to provide extra protection for what's left underneath, then groom the dead parts once it is safe to do so and see if what's left will regenerate. Is there a better way, or should I yank them and fageddaboudit?
What is your experience?

I have now purchased better quality covers, I hope. Got Planketts brand yesterday. Thanks for any suggestions you may offer for these little 'butterfly magnets'!

[travelguy]

yes, as long as the roots remain viable you should have lovely plants again. do not trim back just yet, but as the weather warms up you can remove the damaged parts. in time they will recover.

[Uptown Girl]

Thank You travelguy
I appreciate it!

[Rons Landscaping]

Just saw your question, and thought I would respond to it. Pentas is a semi tropical plant that is treated like a annual here in this part of Florida. When I was a wholesale grower here in Florida, we would grow Pentas along with hundreds of other plants. We delivered plants to 12-counties here in Florida, from major theme parks, to garden centers, and landscape designers from Lake City Florida to Sarasota Florida. Pentas will do alright in zones 10 & 11 but north of that, they have to be treated like an annual. If it gets cold enough, they will even get hurt way down south. If you notice, The Villages plants them in the round-abouts, and treats them as annuals. (Sorry) Frost proof cloth is not going to help them survive, plant them in pots where you can take them in when it gets cold, thats really the only way to save them in this area.

[jimbo2012]

Ron you're the only landscaper that contributes info to this forum.

keep it up