 Lantana Bandana Red is a heavy bloomer. |
 Lantana ‘Anne Marie’ flowers are a rainbow of colors. |
There are some gardeners, myself included, who regard the smell of lantana foliage as stinky. There are others who describe it as fragrant. Regardless, all can agree that they are flowering powerhouses. Lantanas are covered with 2- to 3-inch clustered blossoms all summer. As the individual flowers age, they often change color, giving the blossoms a bicolor effect. The foliage can be mildly poisonous to some animals, including deer, ensuring lantana’s exemption from being grazed upon. The berries, slightly poisonous when green, ripen to a metallic navy blue and are then edible. Birds love these berries and butterflies love the flowers. In addition to the myriad of new introductions, reliable older varieties include ‘Confetti’ and ‘Dallas Red’. And best of all, they love it hot and dry.
Common Name: Lantana, Spanish flag
Botanical Name: Lantana camara
Varieties/Cultivars to Look for: Bandana series, Patriot series, Luscious series, ‘Anne Marie’, ‘Confetti’, ‘Dallas Red’
Color: White, orange, yellow, red, pink and lavender
Blooming Period: All summer
Type: Annual
Size: 12 to 30 inches
Exposure: Full sun
How to Plant: In beds 12 inches apart, or in pots
Soil: Well-drained soil
Watering: Average moisture
When to Prune: As needed for shaping
When to Fertilize: Monthly
In Your Landscape: Beds or pots
From Ohio Gardener Volume III Issue IV. Photos by Chris Baker.
