Flower clusters 1 to 2 inches across are solid or multicolored, some changing as they age. Colors include yellow, orange, red, purple, white, coral, and peach. Non-sterile varieties produce small berries after flowering. Green or variegated foliage is rough textured, oval shaped, and can get up to four inches long. When brushed up against, the leaves have a pungent, sage-like scent.
Young annuals have fleshy stems, while older plants become woody. Lantana can be harmful to children, pets, and livestock. The leaves can cause brief skin irritation or a rash.
Though all parts of the plant are poisonous, the berries are the most toxic, and can be fatal if ingested. Photo by Proven Winners.
Lantana loves heat and will do best when planted in mid-late spring when all danger of frost is past, after the soil has warmed up. In a sunny site with fertile, well-draining soil that will stay evenly moist until plants are established. Loosen soil and amend with compost. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball and place so the top of the crown is level with the soil surface. Remove plant from container and gently tease out roots if potbound. Place the plant in the hole and backfill.
Tamp down soil around the base and water well. Mulch with coarse organic matter or gravel keeping away from the crown of the plant to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
Where grown as a perennial, plants will become woody shrubs or groundcovers. In early spring, cut out dead wood and prune back by a third to stimulate new growth. As an annual, lightly prune to shape as needed or if it outgrows a space. Pinch stem tips to encourage branching and flower production. Some require deadheading to encourage new flowers and prevent berries from forming. After the soil warms up, plant your lantana in an area of the garden that receives morning and afternoon sunlight.
Planting lantana in shady areas may prevent the plant from flowering. Lantana Camara Flower Seeds After planting, press down on the soil around the base of the plant to remove any air pockets. Water the lantana thoroughly, and leave the soil to dry for 3-days before watering again. The spacing requirements vary depending on the variety, and you can mulch around the base of the plant during the summer to retain moisture in the soil and provide the plant with additional nutrients to support flowering.
Add some perlite to the soil to improve drainage and airflow to the roots of the plant. Make sure the container drains well to prevent the roots from developing rot. Lantanas require some maintenance and care during, and after the growing season, depending on the variety you choose. Annual varieties of lantana require light pruning to shape the plants. Pinch the tips of the stems to encourage the plant to branch out and increase flower production in the summer. By deadheading your lantana during the flowering season, you extend its blooming time.
As a result, you might be able to squeeze in an extra flowering session before the winter sets in, and the cold weather arrives. Deadheading also prevents the plant from forming berries. While this practice is not necessary to grow healthy lantana, deadheading allows you to enjoy your plant for longer during the growing season.
Remove the plant from the garden, and plant it in a pot. Leave the pot in a cold, dark area of your home, and spread mulch over the top of the plant, leaving the crown exposed. Lantana grows well in most soil types. However, the plant prefers soils that offer excellent drainage and plenty of nutrients to help it flower.
She travels widely and has spent over six years living abroad. Home Guides Garden Gardening. By Eulalia Palomo Updated December 27, Related Articles. Best of all, you can plant them now. Native to tropical America, lantanas may be annuals or perennials, depending on where you live. Tiny flowers in tight clusters that resemble miniature nosegays appear nearly continuously in warm weather. Although some selections boast flowers in solid colors, many have bicolored clusters.
A lantana garden is butterfly heaven; no flowers do a better job of attracting them. Common lantana Lantana camara is a rounded, shrubby plant that you sometimes see in older gardens in the Deep South. It grows 4 to 5 feet high and wide and sports orange, red, or yellow flowers.
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