A Guide to Growing and Caring for Pentapetes Phoenicea Flowers

The Pentapetes phoenicea, a member of the Mallow family and an annual herbaceous plant, reaches a height of about 3.3 feet.

Its leaves are arranged alternately, line-shaped lanceolate with a tapered tip, and a wide triangular base with blunt teeth; the axillary flowers have lanceolate sepals covered in both stellate soft hairs and stiff hairs.

The petals are a wide, inverted egg shape in a vibrant red color, while the capsule fruit is ovate-globular with a surface of stellate hairs and bristles. The seeds are elliptical with fan-shaped endosperm folds.

This species blooms in the summer and fall. Named for its flowers that bloom at midday, it is also called “Noonday Flower” and “Nightfall Coin” because, after the flowers wither at night, the remaining corolla resembles a coin.

Originally from India, the Noonday Flower is also found in Japan. It thrives in warm, well-lit conditions, tolerating heat but not the cold, and prefers fertile, loose sandy loam soils. It primarily reproduces by seed.

The Noonday Flower has medicinal properties: it can clear heat, detoxify, reduce masses, and disperse swelling. It is also used to treat tumors, mastitis, and mumps.

With its bright colors, unique shape, and extended flowering period, it is suited for creating flower beds and can also be potted for ornamental viewing.

The plant is prolific in its budding and continual blooming, with the full plant appearing to be adorned with “coins,” symbolizing prosperity and wealth.

I. Botanical History

The Money Flower earned its name due to the shape of its blooms. The flowers, which open at noon, are round and coin-sized, with a bright crimson color resembling rouge, hence the name.

Blooming at midday and falling at midnight, it has acquired names such as “Midday Money Flower,” “Noonday Flower,” and “Meridian Flower.”

Those who cultivate the plant open their doors in the morning to discover that the blossoms from the previous day have already fallen, earning it another name, “Nightfall Money.”

II. Morphological Characteristics

This annual herb grows between 1.6 to 3.3 feet tall and sparsely covered in stellate soft hairs.

The leaves are line-shaped lanceolate, measuring 2-4 inches in length and 0.4-0.8 inches in width, tapering at the tip with a broad triangular, round, or truncated base, and have blunt serrations; the petioles are 0.4-1 inches long.

The plant bears one to two flowers in the leaf axils, opening at noon and closing in the morning; the sepals are lanceolate, about 0.4 inches long, covered on the outside with stellate soft hairs and bristles.

The five red petals are broad and inverted egg-shaped, about 0.5 inches long; there are fifteen stamens grouped in threes, interspersed with five degenerate stamens that are tongue-shaped, about 0.5 inches long and 0.04 inches wide, with the base united.

The ovary is stalkless, five-chambered, ovate, covered with long soft hairs, with about 8-12 ovules per chamber; the style is linear, glabrous, and about 0.4 inches long.

The capsular fruit is nearly spherical, about 0.5 inches in diameter, densely covered with stellate hairs and bristles, shorter than the persistent sepals. The flowering period is summer to fall.

III. Origin and Habitat

This genus, consisting of a single species, has been introduced to China for cultivation and is native to India. It is also found in tropical Asia and Japan.

It thrives in warm, sunny environments, is heat-resistant but not cold-tolerant, with an optimal growth temperature range of 64-79°F (18-26°C). It is not particular about soil types, but performs best in fertile, loose sandy loam.

IV. Propagation Methods

Propagation is achieved through seed sowing and can also occur naturally as the plant self-sows, with seeds falling to the ground and germinating on their own. Both methods result in robust plant growth.

After flowering, Pentapetes phoenicea produces globose capsules that split open upon maturity; however, the seeds do not disperse easily, allowing for a one-time harvest or a staggered collection.

In early April, seeds are sown directly into a prepared, sunny nursery bed or an open space in the yard. Soaking the seeds in warm water for 10 minutes prior to sowing can hasten germination.

Initially, the seedlings grow slowly but pick up pace with warmer weather. Seedlings are transplanted once they reach a height of 2-4 inches (5-10 cm).

V. Cultivation Techniques

By mid-June, plants are set in the garden at a spacing of 16 inches (40 cm). A small amount of mature cake fertilizer is applied as a base before planting.

To prevent excessive evaporation and wilting of leaves, provide shade when planting. Water thoroughly after planting and then every 7-10 days.

When fertilizing Pentapetes phoenicea during its growth period, avoid over-fertilizing or too strong a concentration; typically, apply a dilute cake fertilizer solution every half month, and before flowering, add a final dose with 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate to strengthen the stems.

Watering should be moderate to maintain soil moisture without overwatering, as overly wet soil can lead to disease.

VI. Main Value

Ornamental

The Pentapetes phoenicea, with its beautiful flower shape and vibrant colors, is suitable for potting and display.

It is a rare herbaceous flower within the Sterculiaceae family, blooming at noon which has earned it the name “Noon Flower,” and is also known for its flowers that fall off entirely, earning it another moniker, “Night Falling Money.”

It is ideal for decorating garden paths, rockeries, and courtyards, as well as being a backdrop in landscape design.

Medicinal

Pentapetes phoenicea is used to reduce heat and detoxify, shrink swellings, and treat conditions such as tumors, mastitis, and mumps.

VII. Plant Culture

The plant’s abundant buds and continuous blooming, with the appearance of hanging “coins,” often symbolize wealth and prosperity.