Lantana plants are a genus of flowering shrubs native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean. They are easy to grow and are drought tolerant, making them popular for landscaping. Lantana plants produce small, colorful flowers in clusters that can range in color from yellow, orange, pink, and purple. The leaves of lantana plants are usually a deep green, and some varieties have variegated foliage. These plants are often used as ground covers, in containers, and as hedges.
Planning Your Garden With Lantana
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Lantana is a perennial. |
| USDA Zone | Lantana is hardy in USDA Zones 8-11. |
| Cold Tolerance | Lantana is fairly cold tolerant and can survive temperatures as low as 32. |
| Days to harvest | The minimum number of days to harvest lantana is usually around 60 days. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown lantana plant is 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. |
| Spacing requirements | Lantana is a tropical plant that can tolerate some crowding, but it will do best with plenty of room to spread out. For best results, space lantana plants 18-24 inches apart. |
| Sun tolerance | Lantana is generally considered to be very tolerant of full sun and can even tolerate some partial shade. |
| Shade tolerance | Lantana is moderately shade tolerant and can tolerate light shade but performs best in full sun. |
| Water requirements | Lantana plants require moist soil that is well-draining. They should be watered regularly, about once per week, to keep the soil moist but not soggy. In hotter climates, lantana may require more frequent watering, up to twice a week. During periods of extreme heat and drought, lantana may need to be watered more often. |
| Fertilizer | The amount of fertilizer you should use when growing lantana depends on the type of soil you are using and the type of fertilizer you are using. Generally, a balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 is recommended. Apply the fertilizer at a rate of 1/2 to 1 pound per 100 square feet of soil. |
| Soil pH | Lantana prefers a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. |
Why Lantana is Popular
People like to grow lantana because it is an attractive, easy-to-care-for perennial that blooms in a variety of colors and is drought-tolerant. It also attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.
Companion Plants For Lantana
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for lantana include:
Common Pests For Lantana
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow lantana, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- thrips
- aphids
- caterpillars
- whiteflies
- spider mites
- mealybugs
- scale insects
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
