Egyptian Star Cluster

Pentas lanceolata

Egyptian Star Cluster

Vibrancy, Positive Life Changes

The Egyptian Star Cluster, also known as Pentas, bloom throughout the summer, producing clusters of vibrant red, pink and purple flowers. The star-shaped flowers have white centers and attract butterflies and bees. The plants are perennial and thrive in warm, humid climates and like full sun with well-drained soil. In cooler regions, plants are grown as annuals. The plants have dark green lance-shaped leaves.

The plants are native to Africa. Plants grow up to 3 feet tall, and in very warm regions can grow into shrubs.

Egyptian Star Cluster flowers have five petals.  The spiritual vibration of the number 5 is also important - representing personal freedom and life changes that move you in a positive direction.  These moves may be done or experienced with more passion and intensity than you observe in people around you. As the flowers attract butterflies and bees, these are jumping off points or connections to higher realms.  This may mean you're ready for a move into a more spiritual direction.

The intensity of the color of Egyptian Star Clusters as well as the long bloom period symbolize vibrancy. People who enjoy these flowers or are attracted to them may find that they are the most vibrant surrounded with other people who share their interests and passions. They will feel comfortable being the "star" attraction and others will feel attracted to their level of vibrancy.  Egyptian Star Clusters bloom all summer through to fall and the first frost, and so do people who enjoy these plants - the frost represents a cooling time when the person can go within and recharge.  It also could symbolize external forces or people who want to "cool down" an individuals vibrancy.  Ask yourself it you are allowing yourself the personal freedom to feel vibrant or if you're allowing yourself to listen to others who don't appreciate your stellar qualities.
 

Peony

Tree Peony

Paeonia

Scorpio

Vibrancy, Winter

Peony is a perennial known for it's large showy pink, red, white or yellow flowers in spring and summer. Newly planted peonies may take up to three years to produce flowers.  Mature plants may require support as the number of flowers may cause the supporting stems to bend to the ground. Peony plants require little care and can survive winter temperatures to -30 degrees F, with some able to tolerate -50 degrees F.

Peonies are native to Asia, Europe and along the Pacific Coast in North America.  Tree Peony is native to China.

Peonies are available in two types:

• Herbaceous Peony likes full sun.  Plants grow to 4 feet and blooms are up to 6 inches in diameter.  A well established plant may have several dozen flowers. Herbaceous Peony can be divided. At the first frost, these plants die back to the ground and reemerge in the spring. These plants have been known to live in the same place for 50 years or more. They are deer resistant.
• Tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) typically grows to 5 feet tall but can grow up to 10 feet tall and are 4 to 5 feet wide. The plants like partial shade and well drained soil. In the fall, the plants loose their leaves but the woody branches remain visible through the winter. Tree Peony is grown from seed or grafts. 

The two energetic aspects of this plant, vibrancy and winter, provide balance for each other. The Peony flowers are bold and are produced in high numbers in spring and summer, showing us the bold aspects of vibrancy.  Peony is for those who like life bold and colorful, who live with vibrancy.  This is the energy that can be used to provide focus and, more importantly, the action needed to create and complete projects, from planning a party to producing a software release. The vibrancy will carry the planner and the project to completion.

One who is familiar with peony energy may also be thankful for the dormancy in winter.  Peony either dies back or loses its leaves, but either way it becomes quiet and is prepared for extremely cold temperatures of winter.  We can learn from this example that winter can be a time of quiet rest. The darkness can be used as a time of contemplation and planning, and the cold a way to slow down and prepare for the action that spring and summer will be sure to bring.

People who chose to work with Peony have the best of all seasons - the vibrancy of the full sun of spring and summer, and the time to contemplate and plan during winter.