Lantana is a popular flowering shrub, often grown as an annual in cooler climates, known for its ability to thrive in hot, sunny conditions. The direct answer to whether this plant attracts hummingbirds is a resounding yes, as these colorful flowers are a reliable and long-lasting source of food. The attraction is largely due to the plant’s continuous bloom cycle and the specific shape of its individual flowers.
The Appeal of Lantana Flowers
The structure of the Lantana blossom is perfectly suited to the feeding style of hummingbirds. Each cluster, or umbel, is composed of many tiny, individual florets that have a tubular shape. This narrow, elongated form allows the hummingbird’s long, slender bill and tongue to reach the nectar deep inside, while insects with shorter mouthparts may struggle to access the reward.
Lantana provides a high-energy food source in the form of sweet nectar, which fuels the birds’ rapid metabolism. The flowers often feature vibrant colors like red, orange, and pink, which are particularly visible and appealing to hummingbirds. The dense clustering habit of the blooms means a hummingbird can access multiple feeding opportunities from one convenient spot, conserving energy during its foraging flights.
The flowers on a single Lantana cluster frequently change color as they mature, adding to the visual appeal for pollinators. Lantana is prized by gardeners for its long blooming season, which often lasts from spring until the first frost. This provides a consistent food supply for hummingbirds throughout the summer and during migration periods.
Choosing the Best Lantana Varieties
Selecting the right Lantana cultivar is important for maximizing its appeal to hummingbirds. For a sustained, season-long food source, it is best to seek out sterile or near-sterile varieties, such as those in the ‘Bandana,’ ‘Luscious,’ or ‘Bloomify’ series.
These sterile plants do not expend energy on producing seeds, which means they dedicate their resources to continuous flower production, leading to non-stop blooming. Non-sterile Lantana varieties will stop flowering once they set seed, requiring the gardener to manually remove the spent flowers through deadheading to encourage new blooms. Selecting a sterile cultivar eliminates this maintenance step while ensuring a constant supply of nectar.
Consider the plant’s growth habit when choosing a variety, as hummingbirds prefer easy access. Upright or mounding types offer substantial feeding stations. Trailing varieties, such as those used in hanging baskets, are also effective, bringing the food source to different vertical levels of the garden. Avoid highly hybridized cultivars with double flowers or very large, dense flower heads, as these structures can sometimes obstruct the bird’s access to the nectar.
Supporting a Hummingbird Garden
While Lantana is a strong attractant, a successful hummingbird habitat requires more than a single plant. The garden should include a variety of other nectar sources, especially native tubular flowers like Bee Balm, Cardinal Flower, or Salvia. These plants bloom at different times to ensure a continuous food supply. Native plants often provide higher quality nectar for local hummingbird species.
Hummingbirds also need safe places for resting, nesting, and avoiding predators. Providing trees and shrubs, especially around the garden’s edges, offers the protective cover and horizontal branches these birds seek. Small, dense shrubs can serve as convenient perching spots near feeding areas.
A water source is necessary, as hummingbirds need to drink and bathe. A traditional bird bath is often too deep, but a shallow dish with pebbles or a gentle mister is highly attractive to them. Place the Lantana and other nectar plants in a sunny, protected location, which will also help the birds feel secure while they feed. A garden rich in natural, nectar-producing flowers should be the primary focus.