Lantana
Lantana camara
A perennial shrub featuring rough, ovate to oblong-ovate leaves with serrated margins, prominent reticulate venation, and a somewhat rugose surface texture.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Moderate drought tolerance once established. Water thoroughly when dry, allowing soil to dry out between watering sessions to prevent root rot.
- Growth
- Perennial shrub growing in a dense, mounding or trailing habit with a mature height of 2 to 6 feet and a similar spread.
Care instructions
Provide full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Water deeply when the top few inches of soil become dry. Feed with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Moderate drought tolerance once established. Water thoroughly when dry, allowing soil to dry out between watering sessions to prevent root rot.
Soil
Well-draining loamy, sandy, or clay soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.5
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 11
Growth habit
Perennial shrub growing in a dense, mounding or trailing habit with a mature height of 2 to 6 feet and a similar spread.
Bloom season
Blooms from late spring through autumn, producing dense clusters of small, tubular flowers that change color over time.
Propagation
Propagated successfully through stem tip cuttings taken in spring or summer, or by starting seeds in a warm, moist environment.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to powdery mildew in humid conditions and can occasionally attract whiteflies or spider mites, managed through good air circulation and appropriate horticultural oils.
Similar species
Lantana montevidensis, which features a trailing growth habit and smaller purple flowers rather than upright multi-colored clusters.