Lantana Growing Guide

Lantana camara 

Lantana

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous 

Soil

Any fertile soil with excellent drainage.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Very limited. A few lantana varieties will persist as perennials where winters are mild, but most are killed by hard freezes.

Feeding

Mix a standard application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting along with a generous helping of well-rotted compost. When growing lantana in containers, use a coarse potting soil that drains well.

Companions

Lantanas are sprawling plants that attract huge numbers of butterflies, so locate them where they are easily seen on sunny days.

Spacing

Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 9" (25cm) with 1' 1" (35cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Only a few lantana varieties are available as seed, but it is better to start with vegetatively propagated plants because they are seed sterile and cannot become weedy. Most gardeners buy lantanas as bedding plants, which are sold in late spring and early summer as warm-weather bedding plants. Large varieties may need wider spacing, or you can grow them in 14-inch (35cm) diameter containers.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Many lantanas have florets that change color as they age. Blooming is best in very warm weather. As long as they have ample water, lantanas tolerate extreme heat.

Harvesting

Snip off any seed clusters that form and discard them, as they are poisonous.

Troubleshooting

Lantanas that dry out often can be brought back to life with regular water and fertilizer.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Lantana