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Lantana

Lantana is commonly grown as a sun-loving Ornamental Features
flowering annual in South Carolina. A few cultivars Lantana is valued for its long season of reliable
are reliably perennial throughout much of the state. bloom. Many cultivars display multiple colors
More are perennial near the coast. All are tough, within each two-inch wide disc-shaped flower head.
resilient plants that thrive in hot weather and bloom The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
profusely from spring until frost.
Foliage is coarse, lightly toothed and rough to the
Lantanas are very attractive to butterflies. This is ‘Mozelle’ touch. Crushed leaves have a pungent scent, so you
lantana (Lantana camara). may want to locate where the plant it will not spread
Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension across walks if the odor offends you.

Height/Spread Landscape Use
Some cultivars grow to as much as 5 to 6 feet tall, Use lantana as annuals or perennials in flowerbeds
forming large, bushy mounds while others stay low or containers. Spreading cultivars are attractive as
and spreading, reaching up to 4 feet wide, but only groundcovers or trailing over containers and walls.
1 to 2 feet in height. Some cultivars are more
compact. Grow lantana in full sun. Lantana is tolerant of all
Growth Rate soil types provided they are well drained and
Lantanas generally grow rapidly. Some cultivars, slightly acid. Lantana is tolerant to salt and is an
such as 'Miss Huff', are extremely vigorous. If excellent choice for plantings near the beach.
plants outgrow their assigned space, they tolerate Lantana prefers warm soil. Plant lantana in spring,
trimming back well during the growing season. at least 2 weeks after all danger of frost is past.
Hardy lantanas will typically show no growth in the
spring until soil and air temperatures are quite
warm.

Maintenance
Water: Newly planted lantanas will need to be kept
moist for the first few weeks until the roots have
spread into the surrounding soil.

While established lantanas are drought tolerant,
performance, bloom, and growth rate will be
reduced if they are too dry for a long period. During
their blooming period, give them a thorough
watering once a week if they do not receive an inch
of rain that week. Avoid overhead watering. Overly
frequent overhead watering can make plant more
susceptible to diseases and root rot.

Pruning: Prune lantana periodically during summer decline in bloom. Trim plants back to encourage
by lightly shearing the tip growth to encourage new growth and flowering.
repeat blooming. Plants that have become too large
for their allotted space may be pruned back by up to Species & Cultivars
a third of their height and spread. Water and lightly Sterile cultivars are desirable since they do not
fertilize newly cut back plants and they will return produce seed, and so stay reliably in bloom
to bloom quickly. throughout the summer. Some of these cultivars
may set a limited amount of fertile berries.
Prune perennial lantanas back hard in spring
(March) to remove old growth and prevent Unless noted otherwise, listed species and cultivars
woodiness. Cut back to about 6 to 12 inches from are not reliably hardy and will most likely perform
ground level. Avoid hard pruning in fall as this can as annuals.
cause reduced cold hardiness.
Common Lantana Cultivars: Common lantana
Fertilizer: Lantana requires little fertilizer. A light (Lantana camara) is the most widely grown
fertilization in spring will usually be sufficient. species, with numerous cultivars. Plants tend to be
Vigorously growing plants may be fertilized again large and mound shaped, although some have
in mid summer, provided plants are not water spreading habit. Many cultivars are hybrids with
stressed. Excessive fertilizer may reduce flowering trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis). In
and make plants more susceptible to disease. addition to cultivars listed, there are many others,
and new cultivars frequently appear on the market.
Problems
Although lantana is generally a very low • 'Athens Rose' is a new cultivar that appears
maintenance plant with few problems, some may likely to be hardy throughout South Carolina.
occur, especially in improper growing conditions. It forms an upright mound up to 3 feet tall.
The flower buds are magenta, opening to deep
Lantana is susceptible to powdery mildew if grown rose-pink and yellow.
in shade. Sooty mold, causing a blackish
discoloration on the leaves is usually caused by • 'Clear White' is a low spreading cultivar with
infestation by whiteflies. pure white flowers.

Root rot can be a problem if soil is poorly drained • 'Miss Huff' is one of the most reliably
or plants are watered too frequently. perennial lantanas, even in the Upstate. It is a
vigorous, tall plant, forming an upright
Lantana lace bugs cause leaves to appear grayish mound up to 5 to 6 feet tall in one season.
and stippled or to brown and drop. Caterpillar Flowers are a mix of orange, coral and gold.
damage also can occur. Mites can be a problem, Sterile.
especially if plants are very dry.
‘Miss Huff’ Lantana (Lantana camara) is hardy throughout
Some cultivars produce small blue-black fleshy South Carolina.
fruit. The fruit can be poisonous, especially if eaten Joey Williamson, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension
in quantity. Fruiting can be avoided by growing
sterile cultivars. Sterile cultivars that are available
include 'New Gold', 'Samantha' ('Lemon Swirl'),
'Miss Huff', 'Mozelle', 'Patriot Deen Day Smith',
'Patriot Marc Cathey', 'Weeping Lavender' and
'Weeping White'.

Poor blooming is usually caused by too much shade
or excessive fertilization. Plants that set berries may

• 'Mozelle' is similar to 'Miss Huff in size and
hardiness, but the flowers are much softer in
color, varying from pale yellow to peach and
soft pink. Sterile.

• 'New Gold' is very similar or the same as
'Gold Mound'. It is generally reliably hardy
on the coast, and frequently overwinters in the
Columbia area. 'New Gold' is a vigorous
spreading plant, reaching 2 feet tall and 4 feet
wide. This cultivar is very heavy blooming,
with deep gold flowers. It is a sterile cultivar
that does not produce berries.

‘New Gold’ Lantana (Lantana camara x L. montevidensis). ‘Chapel Hill Gold’ Lantana is a branch sport of ‘Chapel
Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension Hill Yellow’ Lantana.
Joey Williamson, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension
• ‘Chapel Hill Yellow’ (PP# 21,548) is a low-
spreading, cold hardy lantana with medium • 'Patriot Deen Day Smith' is a newer variety
yellow flowers. It was derived from ‘Miss with pastel colors of rose pink, canary yellow
Huff’ and ‘New Gold’ lantanas. It grows 16 apricot. This is a vigorous growing mounding
inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide and is a type that will attain a height and width of up
prolific bloomer. Hardy to USDA Zone 7b. to 5 feet in one season. Sterile.

• ‘Chapel Hill Gold’ (PP# 21,539) is a branch • 'Patriot Desert Sunset' has an upright
sport from ‘Chapel Hill Yellow’ and is also a mounding form, growing 3 feet tall and wide.
low-spreading, cold hardy lantana (to USDA Flowers are orange, gold, pink and coral.
Zone 7b). Flowers are solid golden yellow. It
grows 12 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide and • 'Patriot Honeylove' is a compact spreading
is also a prolific bloomer. cultivar up to 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide with
pale pink, butter yellow, and ivory flowers
• 'New Red' is very similar or the same as Plants are slightly mounded with gentle
'Texas Flame' and 'Dallas Red'. The flowers weeping habit that is suitable for growing
are orange, yellow and crimson. This cultivar over walls or in hanging baskets.
is the reddest lantana available.
• 'Patriot Marc Cathey' is a tall white flowering
• 'Patriot Cowboy' is one of the smallest variety. The flower centers are clear lemon
lantanas available, growing to only 12 inches yellow. This is a vigorous growing mounding
tall and 12 inches wide. The blooms begin as type, which will attain a height and width of
orange buds that open bright yellow and up to 5 feet in one season. Sterile.
change to bright orange.
• 'Patriot Popcorn' is a small weeping cultivar,
growing only 12 inches tall by 24 inches
wide. Flowers are mixed white and yellow on
a profusely blooming plant.

• 'Patriot Rainbow' is one of the smallest
lantana available, growing to only 12 inches
tall and 15 inches wide. This cultivar is very
similar or the same as 'Confetti'. It is
extremely free flowering, even more so than
typical lantanas. The flowers open chiffon
yellow, and then change to orange and
fuchsia-pink.

• 'Radiation' is a tall upright cultivar growing 4 • 'White Lightnin' has pure white flowers and is
to 5 feet tall and wide. Flowers are orange- similar to 'Alba'
red.
• 'Lavender Swirl' is similar to the species, but
• 'Samantha' has dark green and chartreuse has white flowers that gradually deepen to
variegated foliage with bright lemon yellow pale lavender and finally rich lavender.
flowers. It is very similar or the same as
'Lemon Swirl'. Plants grow 2 to 3 feet tall and Popcorn lantana (Lantana trifolia): This is an
4 feet wide. 'Samantha' is a sterile cultivar unusual species grown primarily for the highly
that does not produce berries. ornamental fruit clusters. Plants grow 3 feet tall and
3 feet wide, with small lavender pink disk shaped
• 'Silver Mound' is a spreading cultivar with flower clusters. After bloom the metallic lavender
creamy white flowers with a gold eye. It is fruit appear in elongated clusters the shape of an ear
very free flowering and does not usually of corn.
produce berries.
Revised by Joey Williamson, HGIC Horticulture Extension Agent,
Weeping Lantana & Cultivars: Weeping lantana Clemson University, 01/14. Originally prepared by Karen Russ,
(Lantana montevidensis) has low vine like stems HGIC Horticulture Specialist, Clemson University. (New 04/04.
and grows 8 to 12 inches tall by 4 feet or more wide Images added 09/07 & 07/15.)
with lavender flowers. Weeping lavender is
excellent for growing where branches can trail over This information is supplied with the understanding that no
a wall or container edge. It is generally hardy on the discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Clemson
coast, and may survive many winters in the University Cooperative Extension Service is implied. All
Columbia area. The crushed leaves have a peculiar recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not
odor somewhere between bitter citrus and the smell apply to other areas. Use pesticides only according to the directions
of gasoline. on the label. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South
Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status
• 'Alba' is similar to the species, but has white of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of
flowers. state and federal regulatory agencies. Follow all directions,
precautions and restrictions that are listed.

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