New Gold lantana

Sun

Full sun; flowering becomes sparse in shade.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then deeply when the soil has dried. Containers need more frequent watering than plants in the ground.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, loamy or gravelly soil; tolerates relatively poor soil but not prolonged waterlogging.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Clusters of golden-yellow flowers from late spring until frost; flowering can continue much of the year in frost-free climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, rough-textured green leaves with toothed edges and a strong scent when crushed.

Growth

Fast in warm weather.

Care needed

Low

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

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

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

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

1. Planting day

   1.5 ft (0.45 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

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed.
• Water the root ball regularly during establishment; let the soil surface dry between later waterings.
• Use containers with drainage holes and never leave them standing in water.
• Feed lightly in spring; excessive nitrogen encourages leaves at the expense of flowers.
• In cold climates, take cuttings or move a potted plant into a bright, frost-free place before autumn frost.

Pruning. In spring, after frost risk has passed, remove dead stems and shorten remaining growth to healthy buds. Lightly trim sprawling shoots during summer to keep the plant compact; wear gloves if the foliage irritates your skin.

Spring

Prune overwintered plants once new growth shows which stems are alive.

Late spring

Plant outdoors after frost danger has passed; water thoroughly and allow room for spreading growth.

Early summer

Check moisture frequently while roots establish, especially in containers.

Summer

Trim straggling shoots and inspect leaf undersides for lace bugs or mites.

Late summer

Take cuttings if you want plants to overwinter under cover.

Autumn

Before frost, bring container plants under cover or remove plants being grown as annuals.

Winter

Keep sheltered plants bright and frost-free, watering sparingly without letting the root ball dry completely.

• Plant along the front of a sunny border for a broad band of yellow beneath taller salvias.
• Let stems spill over raised beds or large container edges.
• Mass on a sunny, well-drained slope where lantana planting is permitted.
• Combine with purple flowers and silver foliage for strong summer colour contrast.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Desert / xeriscape, Hot border, Pollinator garden, Low-maintenance and Small-space.

Plant it with: Blue salvia, Angelonia, Verbena, Globe amaranth, Dusty miller and Rosemary.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for butterflies and other insects. It is not a substitute for native caterpillar host plants.

• Lantana lace bugs cause pale stippling and browned leaves: inspect leaf undersides and treat early with insecticidal soap labelled for the pest, avoiding flowers and visiting insects.
• Spider mites cause fine stippling and webbing in hot, dry conditions: rinse leaf undersides and prevent severe drought stress.
• Root rot causes yellowing and collapse in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and discard badly affected plants.
• Poor flowering usually follows shade or excessive feeding: move to a sunnier position and reduce nitrogen fertiliser.

Treat this cultivar as toxic to cats, dogs, horses and people. Lantana foliage and unripe fruit are particular concerns; substantial ingestion can cause serious poisoning, including liver damage in grazing animals. New Gold usually produces little or no fruit, but that does not make its foliage safe. Sap and leaves may irritate skin.

Where it spreads. New Gold is generally described as largely sterile and has much lower seed-spread potential than fertile lantanas, but do not assume it is exempt from restrictions. Lantana camara and related forms are invasive in Florida, Hawaii and parts of eastern Australia, especially Queensland and New South Wales. Australian restrictions can cover hybrids and cultivars;

• Trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis)

  Usually has lavender-purple or white flowers and a more trailing habit, rather than New Gold's golden-yellow flowers.

• Common lantana (Lantana camara)

  Typical forms are taller and woodier, often with prickly stems, multicoloured flower clusters and conspicuous berries. Yellow cultivars can be difficult to distinguish without a reliable label.

The cultivar name 'New Gold' refers to its golden-yellow flowers.

Propagation. Root softwood cuttings in late spring or summer in a moist, free-draining medium. Seed is rarely produced and would not reliably reproduce the cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Lantana

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