How to Care for Lantana

Lantana is a sturdy plant grown as a perennial in warm locations and an annual in cooler regions. The leaves are rough and covered in small, coarse hairs. Blooms develop in late spring and continue to appear until the plant is killed back by frost. The flowers are available in many colors, including white, yellow, orange and pink. Lantana grows from 1 to 6 feet tall, depending upon the variety. It does best when grown in full or partial sun and well drained soil.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Garden spade
• General purpose fertilizer
• Pruning shears

1. Dig a hole two times the width and the same depth as the lantana’s root ball. Place the roots into the hole at the level they were growing before. Replace the soil and pat down firmly to eliminate air pockets.

2. Water until the soil feels very moist. Continue to water anytime the top of the soil is dry during the first three to four weeks after planting. Once the plants are established, they will only need supplemental moisture when there has been less than 1 inch of rainfall in a week.

3. Feed once in spring with a general purpose fertilizer.

4. Cut the tips of lantana back every three to four weeks during summer to encourage a longer bloom cycle.

5. Prune tall varieties of lantana in summer to control size, but do not remove more than one-third of the foliage at one time.

Tips & Warnings

• Water lantana at ground level to help prevent the development of fungal disease.

• Lantana is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 through 11.