Lantana, a sun-loving shrubby perennial often cultivated as an annual, offers vibrant, multicolored flower clusters that bloom continuously throughout the warm season. This plant is celebrated for its exceptional tolerance to heat and drought, thriving where many other flowering species struggle. Its tubular flowers are a powerful magnet for beneficial visitors, consistently attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Understanding its simple requirements ensures a season full of color and pollinator activity.
Selecting the Right Environment and Initial Planting
Successful lantana growth demands significant solar exposure to produce its characteristic dense blooms. Choose a location that guarantees at least six to eight hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Insufficient light results in sparse flowering and a leggy, less attractive plant habit.
The soil should be well-draining, though lantana is remarkably adaptable and tolerates poor or lean conditions better than rich ones. While it can handle a wide pH range, avoid heavy clay soils, which retain too much moisture and can lead to root problems. Incorporating coarse sand or compost before planting helps improve drainage in marginal areas.
When transplanting a container-grown lantana, dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Carefully loosen any tightly bound roots before setting the plant so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Space individual plants according to the variety’s mature size, then backfill the hole and firmly press the soil down to eliminate air pockets.
Essential Seasonal Care for Continuous Blooming
Consistent watering is necessary immediately after planting to help the root system establish, but mature lantana exhibits excellent drought resistance. Allow the top one to two inches of soil to dry out completely between waterings, as over-saturation commonly causes plant decline. Deeply soaking the soil less frequently is preferable to light, daily sprinkling, encouraging roots to grow downward.
Lantana is a light feeder, and applying too much fertilizer, especially formulas high in nitrogen, will promote lush foliage growth at the expense of flower production. If your soil is very poor or you are growing in containers, apply a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer only once at the beginning of the growing season. Container plants may benefit from a monthly half-strength application of a balanced liquid feed due to nutrients leaching out during watering.
To maintain a continuous display of color, routine maintenance pruning is highly beneficial. Removing the spent flower clusters, a process known as deadheading, prevents the plant from expending energy on developing seeds and instead directs that energy into new bud formation. For sterile or low-seeding varieties, a light shearing or tip-pinching every few weeks encourages bushier growth and a fresh flush of blooms.
Addressing Common Pests and Growth Issues
Lantana is generally robust, but during periods of high stress or humidity, sap-sucking insects may appear. Look for whiteflies, which flutter up when the leaves are disturbed, or spider mites, evidenced by fine webbing and stippled foliage. Lace bugs are another common nuisance, causing a scorched look on the upper leaf surface while leaving small, dark fecal spots on the undersides.
A simple solution for these infestations is applying insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, ensuring thorough coverage of the undersides of the leaves where pests congregate. For growth problems, a lack of flowers often traces back to insufficient sunlight or excess nitrogen fertilizer. Yellowing leaves (chlorosis) frequently indicate the plant is receiving too much water, which causes root function to suffer.
Preparing Lantana for Winter Dormancy
Gardeners in warmer climates can treat lantana as a perennial, where it survives the winter outdoors. In these areas, wait until early spring to prune back dead or woody growth, allowing the old stems to offer winter protection. Avoid heavy pruning in the fall, as this can stimulate tender new growth easily damaged by frost.
In Zones 8 and colder, lantana is most often grown as an annual and allowed to die back after the first hard frost. To save favorite specimens, potted lantana can be brought indoors before temperatures consistently drop below 50°F. Cut the plant back by about one-third and place it in a cool, low-light location, such as a garage or basement (50–60°F). During this dormancy, water sparingly, only enough to prevent the soil from completely drying out.