Lantana is a popular ornamental shrub, often called shrub verbena, valued for its continuous, brightly colored blooms in warm climates. Bees are generally quite attracted to this plant. However, the degree of attraction and benefit varies significantly depending on the specific Lantana variety planted. This difference is often tied to the plant’s breeding history and whether it is a traditional species or a modern hybrid.
The Core Attraction: Why Bees Visit Lantana
Lantana attracts bees due to its floral architecture and the generous reward it offers. The individual flowers are small and tubular, densely packed into flat-top clusters known as umbels. This structure creates a large, stable landing platform. This allows bees and other insects to forage efficiently across many flowers without moving far between sips.
The plant offers an abundant supply of sweet, energy-rich nectar, which sustains pollinators, especially during warm periods when other forage is scarce. The tubular shape allows easy access for the long proboscis of many bee species, including the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), enabling efficient nectar gathering. Lantana flowers also provide pollen, a necessary protein source for bees.
Many Lantana species change flower color after successful pollination. For instance, flowers may open bright yellow and then shift to orange, pink, or red after they have been fertilized. Bees recognize these color cues, which acts as a sophisticated signaling system. By visiting only the newly opened, typically yellow flowers, which contain the freshest nectar and pollen, bees maximize foraging efficiency and avoid depleted flowers.
This color-changing mechanism benefits the plant by directing pollinators precisely to flowers ready for fertilization, increasing the chances of seed production. The older, color-changed flowers are retained on the inflorescence. This increases the overall visual size of the cluster, making the plant more visible and attractive to pollinators from a distance. The plant also emits a strong, recognizable scent that aids in attracting insects.
Cultivar Considerations and Pollinator Value
While Lantana is generally attractive to bees, not all garden varieties offer the same pollinator value. Horticultural breeding has introduced significant variability, particularly in the quest for continuous blooming. This has led to the development of many sterile or near-sterile hybrids, often marketed as “seedless.”
These sterile varieties are bred to put energy into producing flowers rather than seeds, which extends the bloom time. However, creating sterility can sometimes result in reduced pollen production or less nectar. This makes them less rewarding for foraging bees compared to older, fertile species. Gardeners prioritizing pollinator health should seek out fertile or native varieties, which offer higher nutritional rewards.
The bloom structure also plays a role in accessibility for different types of bees. Most traditional Lantana varieties feature open, single-petal blooms that allow easy access to the nectar tubes. Highly hybridized varieties with dense, double-petal blooms or tightly packed flowers can physically obstruct access to pollen and nectar for smaller native bees. Observing the plant in the garden can provide clues, as open flowers consistently covered in bees are likely the most beneficial.
Native Lantana species, such as Lantana urticoides (Texas Lantana), are often the best choice for local bee populations where they are indigenous. These native plants have co-evolved with local insect species, ensuring a perfect match in bloom structure and reward content. When selecting a plant, looking for varieties listed as native or those known to set seeds ensures maximum support for the local pollinator community.
Ecological Context and Potential Drawbacks
Before planting Lantana, consider the potential ecological drawbacks, particularly concerning the common species Lantana camara. While highly attractive to bees, this species is classified as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species in many tropical and subtropical regions. Its aggressive spread is facilitated by birds, which consume its berries and disperse the seeds widely.
In areas where it is invasive, Lantana camara can rapidly form dense thickets, outcompeting native vegetation through a chemical process known as allelopathy. This displacement of native flora reduces overall biodiversity and long-term food sources for local, specialized bee and insect populations. The presence of non-native honey bees, which are attracted to the plant, can worsen the problem by increasing the invasive plant’s seed set.
Another consideration is the plant’s toxicity. The leaves of Lantana contain triterpenoids, such as lantadenes A and B, which are toxic to livestock and pets if consumed. The unripe berries are also poisonous to humans and animals. Gardeners should be aware of this risk, especially where children or grazing animals have access to the plants.
To enjoy the pollinator benefits of Lantana responsibly, gardeners should prioritize sterile varieties or native species. Sterile cultivars, like those in the Bloomify or Patriot series, do not produce viable seeds, eliminating the risk of invasive spread. Selecting these non-invasive options allows for a pollinator-friendly garden without contributing to environmental harm.