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Planting, Growing, and Caring for Lantanas
With multi-colored blossoms against dark green foliage, lantanas not only catch our eye but are beloved by pollinators. Heat- and deer-resistant, these flowering shrubs grow vigorously in both garden beds and containers! Learn how to plant, grow, and care for lovely lantana flowers.
About Lantanas
Lantana is a genus of flowering, evergreen, vine-like shrubs with about 150 species recognized. They are in the Verbena family, Verbenaceae. Native to the tropical regions of the Americas and Africa, they have become naturalized in parts of the American Southeast.
Treated as annuals in cooler regions, lantanas are perennial in USDA zones 9 to 11, with a few varieties hardy to zone 8. Lantanas thrive on neglect and like dry heat, making them ideal selections for pots, planters, and hanging baskets.
These shrubs have a colossal impact on color, with dark green, rough foliage, and bright flowers. The lightly fragrant flowers are in clusters called umbels at the edges of the plant. Blooms are commonly found in combinations of red, orange, yellow, pink, salmon, white, and even blues and purples. Many florets change color as they age, giving rise to multi-colored inflorescences.
The flowers have a mild scent, variously described as resembling citrus- sage or passion fruit. The scent of its leaves, especially when bruised, is not as pleasant and has been likened to that of gasoline. Beware, too, as the plant’s foliage may cause mild skin irritation when touched.
Note: Lantanas have been designated invasive in Florida, California, Hawaii, and Arizona. Their perennial nature, berries attractive to birds, foliage poisonous to herbivores, and rapid growth allow them to quickly spread out of control. They are toxic to pets and people, so plant them where small children and curious dogs won’t be tempted to bother them.
Lantanas are attractive to pollinators and bring butterflies, including Swallowtails, as well as hummingbirds to the yard. Their florets are the ideal shape for nectar-gathering insects.
Lantanas thrive in warm temperatures and bright sunlight. Pick a location where they can enjoy at least 6 hours per day of sunshine. They are not picky about soil as long as it has good drainage and is neutral in pH, in the 6.0-8.0 range.
Lantana will bloom year-round in frost-free areas and can get as large as 6 feet high and several feet wide in tropical climates. Don’t worry too much about them outgrowing their home. Lantanas respond well to pruning and, in fact, should be pruned or sheared often.
They will tolerate salt spray well, making them a good choice for those looking for colorful plants whose homes are near the ocean.
When to Plant Lantanas
Lantanas grown as annuals, whether in containers or in the ground, can be planted out anytime after the last frosts. Although they like temperatures to stay warmer than about 55 degrees, a light frost likely won’t kill them and they can survive down to about 28 degrees.
Wait until the soil warms to about 60 degrees before planting in ground. If you don’t have a soil thermometer, plant them at the same time as you plant your tomatoes.
How to Plant Lantanas
Lantanas purchased at the garden center vary in size from 4 packs to 3-gallon pots. Plant them in the ground as you would other bedding plants, and water them well afterward.
- Well-draining soil is important whether planting in a container or in the ground. Lantanas are adapted to drier conditions. Consistently wet soil may lead to root rot. Amend heavy soil with compost.
- If you live in USDA zone 8 or cooler, your lantana will be an annual unless brought inside, so placement in your landscape is a short-term decision. Mix it up, plant a patch, or sprinkle them around the garden bed for pops of color.
- Water your lantana well after transplanting and for the next few weeks. Although drought tolerant once established, they need extra support while their roots are recovering from transplant shock and putting on growth.
- Purchasing plants is easy to do, but propagation can also be simply accomplished with hybrid cuttings. (Cultivars often do not come true from seed.) In early spring, snip a sprig and remove most of the lower leaves. If desired, dust the cutting’s bottom 2 inches with rooting powder, then set it in a small container of moistened seed-starting mix. Maintain the moisture by misting it every day. When roots develop—in a few weeks or so—transplant it to where you want it. Alternatively, take root cuttings in summer to overwinter indoors for spring planting.
Lantanas aren’t fussy. Give them a warm, sunny spot and watch them grow. These easy-care plants don’t want much other than your admiration.
- Lantanas prefer hot and dry conditions. Consistently wet soil can lead to root rot and inhibit blooming. Once established, water only when the top several inches of soil is dry to the touch, then water deeply. They would rather get a few long drinks than many short ones.
- Fertilizer is not needed for ground-planted lantanas. Lantanas in containers can be fertilized once per month with a general-purpose balanced fertilizer when watering. Too much fertilizer will inhibit lantanas blooming, so don’t overdo it.
- Although established lantanas are drought tolerant, if your lantana isn’t blooming, it is often a lack of water. Check the soil with your finger at a depth of about two inches. If the soil is dry, give your lantana a drink.
- Give it frequent snipping to encourage bushy growth and flowering. Lantana is a rapid grower, so grab your scissors and trim off the meristem–the growing tip–on branches every few weeks once it has reached the desired size. It will branch out below and be a more compact, full plant.
Overwintering
Lantanas don’t do well as houseplants, but can be tricked into going dormant and brought inside to overwinter. Follow these steps to overwinter your potted lantana.
- Find a location with minimal light (not total darkness).
- A cool location, ideally about 55 degrees. An unheated basement or garage might be just the spot.
- Do water it periodically. The death of many overwintering attempts is dehydration. While a plant may be dormant, a complete lack of water for several months is a death sentence. Keep the potting mix slightly dry but not desert dusty. There should still be a little moisture.
- Be on the lookout for spider mites and white flies.
Andy Wilcox
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I live in Texas , around Austin< & I am wondering when my Lantana planted last year will come back. I did the winter pruning, I don't want to jerk the plants out if they are coming back. Thanks.
Hi Debra,
In your area, lantana should be making an appearance soon (since it has not already) to provide its wonderful show of blooms from spring to fall. Depending on the variety and type you planted, the time in which it emerges from the ground can vary. Since lantana is a tropical plant and even though it is considered a perennial in your growing zone, a colder than normal winter could cause it to not return. It would be best to give it more time to see if it will come back and save any decisions about pulling it from the ground until later in the spring when it will be clear if it will not come back.
Here in the Lower Piedmont of SC (zone 8b), my lantana die when it frosts, but so far they have come back from the roots each spring. The branches do not survive and I cut them off.
I got a lantana bush with pink, rose and yellow flower. After the first year the flowers are a single color of rose. Why?
Hi Diane,
As the flowers of a lantana age they change color. Since the flowers do not bloom all at the same time, it is common for plants to have multiple flower colors during the later stages of the growing season. Since it is early in the season, the flowers on your plant should begin to change color.
The Lantana is one of my most favourite flowers. Here in Ontario they are annuals and die off each winter.
Thanks for your information that this plant NEEDS to be cut back before berries form. We still run the risk of it becoming invasive in other states - like all the others that now wreak havoc across the country!
