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Lantana camara

Image of Lantana camara

Gerald L. Klingaman

Family

Verbenaceae

Botanical Name

Lantana camara

Plant Common Name

Lantana

General Description

Lantana is an everblooming, evergreen tropical shrub that is grown as a warm season tender perennial in temperate zones. A native of the tropical Americas, it has numerous rounded clusters of small, tubular flowers of red, yellow, orange, pink or cream. These are often multicolored because their individual flowers open at different times and change color as they age. Its leaves are small, rough, dark to medium green and have a strong unpleasant smell when crushed.

There are many notable cultivars such as the bright gold-flowered 'New Gold' or 'Anne Marie', which has multicolored clusters of vibrant pink, orange and red flowers.

This sunny tropical prefers full sun and evenly moist well-drained, average soil. It is highly attractive to butterflies and looks best when planted in masses. The flowers offer continuous brilliant color to beds and containers all season long and may be trained into tree-like standards in tropical zones.

Lantana camara has been called one of the world’s worst weeds and is highly invasive in some locations. There are sterile cultivars which may be used in the landscape. For more information about the invasive nature of Lantana, see the report by the Global Invasive Species Database(http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?fr=1&si=56). Lantana is a weed only where hardy.

There are also potential health concerns regarding this plant. To learn more go to: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Lantaca.htm.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 4

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    8 - 11

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Tender Perennial

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    2'-6' / 0.6m - 1.8m

  • Width

    2'-6' / 0.6m - 1.8m

  • Bloom Time

    Indeterminate

  • Native To

    South America, Argentina, Brazil, Chile

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Pollution

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Drought Tolerant, Average Water

  • Habit

    Oval/Rounded

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Yellow, Red, Orange, Orange Red

  • Flower Color Modifier

    Multi-Color

  • Fruit Color

    Dark Blue, Black

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Dark Green

  • Bark Color

    Green, Tan

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    Yes

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Bark Texture

    Smooth

  • Usage

    Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    Yes

  • Attracts

    Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes