Lantana

Sun

Full sun; flowering is reduced in partial shade.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, then allow the soil to dry between deep waterings. Established plants tolerate drought; containers need more frequent watering.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, loamy or gritty soil. Tolerates relatively poor soil but struggles in waterlogged ground.

Height

3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m), sometimes taller in frost-free climates; compact cultivars are smaller.

Spread

3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m), potentially wider where stems root into the ground.

Flowers

Late spring to autumn frost, potentially year-round in frost-free climates; yellow, orange, red, pink, white or mixed-colour clusters.

Foliage

Evergreen. Opposite, rough-textured green leaves with toothed edges and a strong smell when crushed; stems may be prickly.

Growth

Fast in warm weather.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.5 ft (0.76 m)

3. After 2 years

   3 ft (1 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.3 m)

5. After 5 years

   4 ft (1.4 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Invasive in

the US and Australia

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant after frost danger has passed, once the soil has warmed.
• Water at soil level and let the surface dry before watering again; never leave pots standing in water.
• Feed sparingly; excess nitrogen encourages leaves rather than flowers.
• Apply a light mulch, keeping it clear of the woody crown.
• Remove developing berries and unwanted seedlings where cultivation is permitted; this does not eliminate its invasive risk.
• Before frost, move container plants to a bright, frost-free place and reduce watering.

Pruning. In spring, after frost risk has passed and new growth shows which stems are alive, remove dead wood and shorten remaining stems to shape the plant. Lightly trim overlong shoots during the growing season, wearing gloves to avoid prickles and skin irritation.

Late winter

Check local invasive-plant restrictions before buying plants or planning new planting.

Spring

Prune established plants after frost risk has passed; wait for new growth before removing apparently dead stems.

Late spring

Plant outdoors after the last frost and water regularly while roots establish.

Summer

Water containers as needed, check for whiteflies and mites, and remove developing berries.

Early autumn

Where propagation is legal, take cuttings from healthy, non-flowering shoots.

Autumn

Move pots under frost-free cover before the first frost, or remove plants grown as annuals without spreading berries.

Winter

Keep overwintering plants bright and frost-free, watering only enough to prevent the root ball drying out completely.

• Use compact cultivars in sunny patio containers for long-lasting colour, where cultivation is permitted.
• Place in hot-coloured borders with salvias and coreopsis for contrasting flower shapes.
• Combine with gaura and ornamental grasses to soften the shrub's dense outline.
• Use in dry, sunny mixed borders once established, but choose a non-invasive alternative in regions where lantana escapes.

Garden styles it suits: Hot border, Mediterranean, Tropical, Modern courtyard, Pollinator garden and Desert / xeriscape.

Plant it with: Salvia, Coreopsis, Gaura, Pentas, Rosemary and Lavender.

Wildlife: Flowers supply nectar for butterflies, bees and other insects. Birds eat the berries and disperse the seeds, helping the plant escape into natural habitats.

• Whiteflies: inspect leaf undersides and treat affected plants with insecticidal soap labelled for the purpose, avoiding open flowers and visiting insects.
• Spider mites: look for stippled leaves and fine webbing in hot, dry conditions; rinse leaf undersides and use an appropriate insecticidal soap if needed.
• Root rot: yellowing and collapse in wet soil require better drainage and less frequent watering; discard badly rotted plants.
• Poor flowering: move plants into full sun, avoid nitrogen-rich feed and allow recently trimmed plants time to form new flower buds.

Toxic to cats, dogs, horses and people if eaten. Leaves, stems and berries are unsafe to ingest, with unripe berries a particular concern for children. Poisoning can cause vomiting and diarrhoea; substantial ingestion, especially by grazing animals, can cause serious liver damage and photosensitisation and may be fatal. Sap and foliage can irritate skin. Seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

Where it spreads. A major invasive shrub in tropical and subtropical Australia, particularly Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Western Australia; it is a Weed of National Significance and sale or cultivation is restricted in many jurisdictions. It is also invasive in Florida and Hawaii, and widely invasive in South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and many Pacific islands.

• Trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis)

  Usually has a low, trailing habit, smaller leaves and lilac-purple flowers with pale centres, rather than the upright growth and frequently mixed-colour flower clusters of common lantana.

• Egyptian starcluster (Pentas lanceolata)

  Has clearly star-shaped, five-pointed flowers and softer, generally narrower leaves; lantana flowers are small tubes with rounded lobes, and its leaves feel rough.

Lantana comes from an old Latin name for the wayfaring tree, a viburnum with superficially similar flower clusters.

Propagation. Where legal and environmentally appropriate, root softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in a warm, bright place out of direct sun. Seed-grown plants vary and may not resemble the parent. Do not propagate or distribute it in restricted regions.

Accepted botanical name

Lantana camara

In the US and Canada

Native in Navassa Island, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. Introduced in Hawaii, the lower 48 states and Pacific Basin.

Native range

Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil North, Brazil West-Central, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador and El Salvador.

Measured

Average height 147 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.