Soil Conditions and Preparation are green, turning black with maturity, Growing Well-drained, tolerant, slightly, acid and are poisonous if eaten. Each berry- soil is a must for lantana; soil pH of about like fruit contains one seed and possibly Lantana in 6.5 or lower is best. Any soil suitable for self-seeds for the next blooming season. bedding plants is ideal. Lantana is fairly Louisiana drought resistant and is highly adaptable Watering and Fertilizing to most soil conditions. If the soil has a Watering is often necessary to achieve clay texture, adding some sand coarse good bloom. Frequent watering in a well- bark may help. Prepare the beds a few drained soil is recommended. Too much Native of tropical Americas and weeks before planting if lantana are to be water will reduce bloom and make the West Africa, the lantana is a common planted in new beds. Work the soil, plant more susceptible to diseases and bedding plant in the South. This publica- preferably with a power tiller, adding root rot. In south Louisiana’s hot sum- tion provides information on culture, amendments as necessary. If lantana are mers, it’s important to make sure the beds watering, fertilization and several other used in hanging baskets or as potted or containers stay moist but not overly topics of Lantana camara (common plants, any commercial potting soil for wet. Modify the watering schedule lantana), Lantana hybrids and Lantana bedding plants will do. according to growth and temperature. montevidensis (trailing lantana). Lantana does not need heavy fertiliz- Planting and Blooming ing. Fertilize sparingly with a complete, General Location The best time to plant lantana in all-purpose garden fertilizer in early Lantana is a heat-loving plant that Louisiana is mid-to-late April, or when spring. Depending on the variety, lantana should be grown in direct sunlight, days are long and hot. Many varieties may need more or less fertilizer through receiving no fewer than 4 hours a day. will return from the roots and main stems mid-summer to encourage faster growth. For optimum growth, night temperatures in early spring. Lantana will bloom from Fertilize every two weeks for the faster should range between 55 and 60 degrees late spring to frost. growing, heavy feeding varieties. Too F and day temperatures of 68 degrees F or The lantana flowers are borne in dense much fertilizer can suppress flowering higher. Lantana likes both humid and dry clusters 1 to 2 inches across near the top and make the plants more susceptible to heat, remaining hardy in USDA Zones 8- of the stem. The clusters of flowers vary disease. 11. in colors, from yellow, orange, red, white, Growing up to 6 feet high and 8 feet pink, to purple and gradually change Mulching across, depending on the cultivar, lantana colors over the blooming period. Often, Mulching is an essential part of good can be used as an upright shrub or a the different colored flowers are present culture. Mulches serve many purposes, prostrate groundcover. Lantana works on the same cluster. The leaves are yel- such as maintaining soil moisture and best in mixed beds and borders, shrub low-green, serrated and aromatic when keeping weeds under control. Mulching groupings or as a container plant. It can crushed. The square stem is brittle- during the summer is not necessary, but it be mixed with most ornamental plants, wooded and can be trained to grow in a is recommended to control weeds and but prospers well alone. Tolerant of a tree shape with great heads of foliage and reduce the amount of watering needed. wide range of environmental conditions flowers above a single stem 2 to 3 feet Mulching after the first frost (when the such as dry, rocky sites to sandy, seaside tall. Throughout the blooming season, lantana has been killed down to the roots) conditions, lantana can be planted in frequent tip pruning will induce repeated will help keep the roots hardy to return in almost any site in full sunlight. flowering. Maintenance is relatively easy. the early spring. Following flowering, clusters of fleshy, berrylike drupes will appear in fall. They Recommended Cultivars Whiteflies will first appear on the Most cultivars commercially available undersides of leaves. They feed by sucking are hybrids of two species of lantana. Most the sap from the plant and excrete a sticky produce colorful flowers and have indi- exudate called honeydew. Sooty mold often Growing vidual characteristics specific to that vari- grows on the honeydew, blackening leaf or ety. Some cultivars adaptable to Louisiana fruit surfaces. Whiteflies are difficult to conditions are: control. Consult your county agent for Lantana in current control recommendations. Cultivar Flower Color Lace bug damage is first noticed as yellow spots on the upper leaf surfaces of Resistance to early fruiting the plants. Both immature and adult lace Louisiana New Gold dark yellow/gold bugs are found feeding on the undersides Gold Mound dark yellow/gold of leaves. When feeding damage becomes Silver Mound off yellow/white severe, the leaves take on a gray blotched Lemon Drop yellowish white appearance or can turn completely brown. Lace bug control requires monitoring early Variegated foliage in the season. Choose a planting site that Samantha light/medium yellow deters the lace bugs. They prefer bright, Lemon Swirl light/medium yellow sunny conditions, making lantana a pre- Compact and low growing ferred target. Control methods include Patriot Rainbow rnagenta using insecticidal soaps and recommended Trailing insecticides. WeepingWhite white Other pests with minor importance Imperial Purple purple include the red spider mite, caterpillars and White Lightnin white leaf miners. L. montevidensis light purple Upright Growing Allen D. Owings, Associate Specialist Patriot Firewagon red (Horticulture) Spreading Sunset red/orange Golden King light yellow Irene magenta Visit our website: www.lsuagcenter.com LSG Red-Orange red/orange American Red Bush red Radiation red/orange Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Dallas Red red William B. Richardson, Chancellor Confetti magenta Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service Jack L. Bagent, Vice Chancellor and Director Pub. 2663 (10M) 4/01 Rep. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Pests work, Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Fortunately, lantana is not prone to Department of Agriculture. The Louisiana many diseases and insect pests. The most Cooperative Extension Service provides equal common problems are: opportunities in programs and employment.