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Lantana is the best heat resistant plantthat can add a punch of color to any flower bed. Lantana flowers come in a variety of orange, white, pink, yellow, purple, red and bi-color options.
These hardy plants are native to tropical regions of Africa and here in the Americas. Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the VERBENA family, Verbenaceae.
Lantana mounds and shrubs with continuous flowers
Depending on where you live and the type grown, Lantana plants can be treated as annuals or perennials.
Verbena, Lantana, requires heat to do well, so plant them where they will get plenty of sun. Well-drained soil is a must, as Lantana won’t tolerate wet roots.
yellow colors of Lantana plants
More nurseries seem to sell Lantana plants by color and not by name.
Lantana shrubs and mounds
Trailing are the more popular low-growing, spreading types of Lantana, Verbena. Purple trailing Lantana looks beautiful cascading over walls or in hanging baskets.
New Gold Lantana – has deep yellow flowers
Texas New Gold Lantana
Dallas Red or Texas Flame Lantana – has red, yellow and orange flowers
Red Orange Yellow Lantana species in the Verbena plant family
Lantana shrubs with pink and light yellow flowers is called Pinkies Lantana or Confetti.
pink and yellow Lantana
Can you grow Lantana in containers? You bet! Lantana does well in pots that are in a sunny location.
Lantana Camara Plant, called Confetti Lantana
Are you looking for low maintenance plants that are drought resistant? Lantana is a good choice that is worth a try!
red and yellow flowering Lantana next to oleander bushes
Lantanas are planted in spring once the threat of frost has ended. These floweringplants love warm temperatures so growth may be slow at first.
Trailing Purple Lantana in containers
Do you want to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden? Lantana flowers are one of the best choices for attracting butterflies.
Flowering Purple Trailing Lantana
When should I water my Lantana, Verbena plants? On average the ground Lantana need a good soaking twice a week. A good indicator is the leaves.
Lantana growing in containers may need to be watered more depending on the temperature.
Very hardy Gold Lantana is great for borders
If your Lantana is wilting, then water it but try not to get water on the leaves. The sun can burn Lantana leaves that have water on them.
The stems of your Lantana are HOLLOW so overwatering will cause your Lantana roots to rot.
Lantana plants and shrubs are one of our favorites for our desert garden and front yard. I recommend this flowering plant to people who want color in their landscaping. Not only is our Arizona Lantanaperennial but it is also a low maintenance plant and easy to grow.
In some cooler locations Lantana plants are annual; but places that do NOT get freezingweather will have new colorful blooms every spring.
Texas Gold Lantana plant
You will find Lantana is inexpensive to buy, easy to find and takes the desert heat!
The entire shrub can be covered with multi colored Lantana flowers even in the worst triple digit temperatures.
white trailing lantana in xeriscape yard
How many Lantana varieties are there? There are about 150 species / varieties of Lantana. This perennial flowering plant is in the Verbena Family, Verbenaceae.
With so many colors to choose from your Lantanas can add vibrant flowersall season long.
White, Purple, Red Lantana mound
Some species of Lantana change color as they mature.
Lantana plants grow into shrubs and mounds
The flower clusters on lantana plants are called umbels.
Confetti Lantana and Purple Verbena plants
Some popularLantana variety names are: Irene, Red Bandana, Radiation, Confetti, Ham ‘n Eggs, Texas New Gold, Dallas Red, Trailing Purple, Christine, and many more….
Camara Lantana Plant in containers
Lantana seems to have no problems surviving on little moisture and soaking up unyielding sun. When watering your lantana try NOT to get the leaves wet but water at the base of the plant. This will prevent the plant from being sun burned.
If I see the leaves wilting I water immediately, soaking the Lantana well to promote deeper, stronger roots.
Lantana plants attract butterflies
Can you grow Lantana in pots and containers? Absolutely and lantana loves it!
We have potted lantana all over the yard. It does take a little more effort to care forlantana in containers but it is worth it.
Texas Gold Lantana grows well in containers
My potted Lantana seems to need more watering than my ground Lantana.
I do not let them dry out completely. Some people do and it works fine for them but I choose not to.
Trailing Lantana growing in pots and containers
Our Purple Trailing Lantana spills over nicely in the above large pot.
Lantana Camara Plant, Confetti
When do I prune my Lantana? Give your Lantana a good pruning in the spring to remove the old growth and prevent the extra woodiness.
Water and lightly fertilize newly trimmed Lantana plants and they will return to bloom quickly. Lantana does not need much fertilizer.
a good pruning helps Lantana plants
When transplanting your Lantana, gently loosen the roots and shake off the excess dirt. Old soil does not help your Lantana plants.
Place it in the hole you made and backfill with healthy topsoil.
Easy to grow Lantana
Most animals avoid Lantana flowers and leaves.
poisonous leaves and woody stems of Lantana
Although Lantana is considered poisonous the RIPE Lantana berries are a delicacy for many birds.
Lantana is a Deer Resistant, Critter Proof plantTexas New Gold Lantana Flower
Growing Lantanain pots is so easy. Choose your size pot or container. Then have a fun time deciding on your Lantana colors. Stick to one or mix them up.
Remember to gently shake off the old dirt from the Lantana roots before you place it in its new home. Potted plants need more watering especially in the hot sun.
Always water at the base of the plants and not the leaves. An exception would be if the Lantana plant was not in direct sun.
Perennial Yellow Gold Lantana in our Arizona garden
The temperatures here in the Sonoran Desert frequently reach over 100 degrees so I add mulch to every plant in our yard. Mulch really helps here in Arizona.
Yellow Lantana in our drought tolerant garden
Lantana is a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies. These perfect desert plants give you flowering color all season long. That is a lot of butterflies!
Butterflies like Lantana flowers
Lantana will suffer from frost damage so cover them up during cold winter nights. Prune the damage from the Lantana in the spring and they may come back.
Marvelous Praying Mantis with New Gold LantanaPotted Purple Trailing Lantana next to our Red Bird of Paradise shrub
Lantana likes full sun, and isn’t picky about the type of soil it will grow in.
Purple Flowers on our potted Lantana
This is precisely why Lantana is a large part of my desert garden.
different Lantana species plants
Not only are Lantanas resistant to extreme temperatures but also drought tolerant.
Some of our Lantana shrubs are growing in unfenced areas and the desert animals leave the plants and Lantana flowers alone.
landscaping with Lantana plants
Lantana is deciduous meaning it drops all leaves in the winter.
Lantana plants do well in pots
If Lantana plants outgrow their assigned space, they tolerate trimming back well during the growing season.
Yellow flowering Lantana containers
Lantana plants and dogs – Our dogs have no interest in our many Lantana plants, flowers or leaves at all.
Red Orange Yellow LantanaRadiation, Yellow and Red Bandana Lantana VarietiesRadiation species of Lantana
The woody stems on the Lantana plants are especially tough and durable and have been used for weaving.
What is the best way to propagate Lantana? Dividing the roots in the winter when the Lantana plant is dormant is the easiest way to propagate.
Soaps, insecticides and common pest treatments can kill Lantana plants. On the rare occasions that our Lantanas have pest problems, I give them a trim and all is well.
