The Bandana Cherry Sunrise Lantana is a popular and vibrant cultivar known for its continuous display of changing flower colors. This low-maintenance, heat-tolerant plant attracts various pollinators, making it a favorite for many gardeners. This article provides guidance on cultivating this beautiful plant.
Key Features of Bandana Cherry Sunrise Lantana
This specific lantana cultivar boasts a distinctive flower color transformation, with blossoms maturing through shades of cherry red, orange, sunrise yellow, and pink, creating a dynamic visual effect. Its growth habit is compact and mounding, typically reaching a height of 12 to 26 inches and spreading 12 to 24 inches. The plant offers an extended blooming period, from planting time through the first frost, providing continuous color throughout the growing season. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, it also features fragrant foliage.
Planting and Care
Ideal Growing Conditions
Bandana Cherry Sunrise Lantana thrives in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal blooming. While adaptable to various soil types, it performs best in well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Once established, this plant exhibits drought tolerance, though deep and infrequent watering is beneficial, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. During its initial growing season, consistent watering is important to help establish a robust root system.
Fertilization
This lantana is considered a light to moderate feeder, meaning it does not require excessive fertilization. Applying a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring is generally sufficient to support its growth and flowering. Over-fertilizing, particularly with high-nitrogen formulas, should be avoided as it can promote foliage growth at the expense of flower production. For container-grown plants, regular fertilization with a liquid feed every 7-10 days can maximize performance.
Pruning for Optimal Growth
Pruning helps maintain the plant’s shape and encourages continuous blooming. Light trimming to remove spent blooms, known as deadheading, can promote more flowers, especially if the plant is setting many berries. For established plants in warmer zones (USDA 8-11), a more significant prune, cutting back by about one-third, can be done in early spring to encourage new growth. Throughout the season, you can lightly trim the plant to shape it or promote increased branching.
Common Pests and Diseases
Bandana Cherry Sunrise Lantana is generally resistant to many common garden pests and diseases. However, under certain conditions, issues like whiteflies and spider mites can occur, particularly in dry environments. Regularly inspecting the undersides of leaves can help detect these pests early. Powdery mildew can also be a concern, but ensuring good air circulation around the plant helps prevent fungal problems.
Landscaping Uses
The versatility of Bandana Cherry Sunrise Lantana makes it a suitable choice for various garden applications. Its mounding habit and continuous blooms make it effective in containers, hanging baskets, and as a “filler” in mixed container arrangements. It also performs well in landscape beds as a mass planting, border edging, or even as a sprawling groundcover in appropriate climates. The plant is highly attractive to pollinators, drawing butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees to the garden. Its heat and drought tolerance allow it to thrive in challenging conditions, including coastal gardens, rock gardens, and xeriscapes.
Important Considerations
All parts of the Lantana plant, including its leaves and berries, are considered toxic if ingested by humans or pets. Symptoms can range from vomiting and diarrhea to more severe issues in animals. Caution should be exercised, especially when placing plants in areas accessible to children or pets.
While the Bandana series cultivars are often bred for reduced seed set, some Lantana varieties have the potential to become invasive in warm climates. The ‘Bandana Cherry Sunrise’ cultivar is typically less prone to invasiveness compared to the species Lantana camara.
Bandana Cherry Sunrise Lantana is a tender perennial, thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 11. In colder regions, where temperatures drop below 40°F, it is generally grown as an annual. In areas where it is perennial, it benefits from a harder shape-up pruning in early spring after the last frost date.