Lantana, a flowering plant in the verbena family, is popular for its vibrant, colorful blooms and resilience. Its small, clustered flowers come in a wide array of shades, often displaying multiple colors within a single cluster. Gardeners use lantana as specimen plants, border shrubs, ground cover, or in hanging baskets, particularly in warm climates. This article explores its appeal to pollinators and important cultivation considerations.
The Pollinator Magnet: Why Lantana Attracts
Lantana is highly attractive to a diverse range of pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Its small, tubular flowers form dense, flat-topped clusters, serving as convenient landing pads for insects to access multiple nectar sources. The continuous blooming period, often lasting from late spring until the first frost, provides a consistent and abundant food source. The flowers are rich in nectar, appealing to butterflies and hummingbirds. Their bright, often multi-colored appearance, which can change hue as they mature, also acts as a strong attractant.
Important Considerations for Planting Lantana
While lantana offers significant benefits to pollinators, gardeners should be aware of its invasive tendencies and toxicity. Certain species, particularly Lantana camara, are considered invasive in many warm regions, including parts of the United States. These plants can form dense thickets that outcompete native vegetation, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt local ecosystems.
Lantana is also toxic to humans and animals if ingested. All parts of the plant, including leaves, flowers, and especially the unripe berries, contain toxic compounds. Ingestion can lead to symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal upset to more severe issues like liver damage, particularly in livestock. Children are also at risk if they consume the berries.
Maximizing Pollinator Benefits and Responsible Use
To maximize pollinator benefits while minimizing risks, careful selection and cultivation practices are important. Choosing sterile or less invasive cultivars, such as ‘Miss Huff’ or ‘New Gold’, can reduce unwanted spread as they produce few viable seeds. It is advisable to check with local extension offices for recommendations on appropriate varieties for a specific region.
Lantana thrives in full sun, requiring at least six to eight hours daily for optimal flowering. Planting lantana in well-draining soil and providing consistent moisture will promote healthy growth and continuous blooms. Regular deadheading encourages more blooms rather than diverting energy into seed production. Pruning the plant by about one-third in late winter or early spring also stimulates new growth and more flowers.
Alternatives to Lantana for Pollinator Gardens
For gardeners concerned about lantana’s invasiveness or toxicity, numerous other plants effectively attract pollinators. Native plants are often an excellent choice as they are adapted to local conditions and provide optimal support for native pollinator populations.
Options like milkweed (Asclepias species) are essential for monarch butterflies, serving as both a nectar source and a host plant for their larvae. Coneflowers (Echinacea species) and bee balm (Monarda species) are highly attractive to bees and offer vibrant blooms. Salvias (Salvia species) are known for their tubular flowers that appeal to hummingbirds and various bee species. Zinnias (Zinnia species) also provide a continuous display of colorful flowers that draw in butterflies and bees.