How to Grow Lantana
Lantana camara
Lantana is a tender shrub prized for its long-lasting, multi-coloured flower clusters that bloom from late spring until frost. Grow in full sun in well-drained soil or containers. In cold climates, treat as a patio plant and overwinter indoors frost-free. Pinch tips for bushier growth and deadhead to encourage continuous flowering. Feed regularly during the growing season. All parts are toxic.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed fortnightly with a balanced liquid fertiliser from late spring through summer when in active growth. Reduce feeding in autumn.
Watch For
- Whitefly (especially under glass)
- Red spider mite in hot dry conditions
- Lantana lace bug
- Grey mould in damp conditions
Companions
Salvia, Verbena, Pelargonium, Calibrachoa
Pet Safety
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun essential
Needs full sun for abundant flowering. At least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Poor light results in leggy growth and few flowers.
Watering
Moderate, drought-tolerant
Water regularly but allow soil to dry between waterings. Lantana is fairly drought-tolerant once established. Reduce to near-dry in winter when overwintering indoors.
Fertilizing
Balanced feed fortnightly in summer
Feed every two weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser during the flowering season. Reduce to monthly in early autumn. Stop entirely in winter.
Pruning
Hard prune in spring, pinch in summer
Cut back hard in early spring, reducing previous year's growth by two-thirds. Pinch growing tips regularly through summer for bushy growth and more flower clusters.
Growing Tips
Pinch for bushiness
Regularly pinch out growing tips through spring and early summer to create a compact, well-branched plant with many more flower clusters.
Colour-changing blooms
Lantana flowers open in one colour and age to another — typically yellow to orange to red. This creates a multi-toned effect on each cluster. Deadhead old clusters to keep fresh ones coming.
Overwinter with care
Before first frost, move plants to a cool bright spot (5-10C). Let the compost dry almost completely between waterings. Resume feeding and watering in spring when new growth appears.
Watch for whitefly
Whitefly is the most common pest, especially on overwintered plants. Check undersides of leaves regularly and use yellow sticky traps or biological controls early.
Popular Varieties
Bandana Cherry, Lucky Red, Radiation, Chapel Hill Gold, Confetti, Landmark Gold
