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Information by: The Plant Nerd Inc.        Photographer: Miramar Nursery

Description

Delightful accents of color are found with this informal shrub. It grows quickly to 10' tall. It can be controlled with pruning, and is a reliable bloomer intermittently throughout the year, benefitting from infrequent, deep waterings and a little pruning. Attracts butterflies. Lantana camara is considered an invasive species. Many nurseries carry sterile cultivars of Lantana camara that are non-invasive and safe to plant. Examples of sterile cultivars of Lantana camara include but are not limited to: 'Gold Mound', Hot Blooded™, 'New Gold', 'Alba', Patriot™ Series, Sunburst™ Series, and the Bloomify™ Series.

Maintenance Tips

Lantana camara is one of the most common flowering shrubs used in warm climates. There are dozens of varieties, all with different colors and different growth habits. This species is extremely attractive to many different pollinating birds and insects. The level of maintenance you can expect will depend on the variety you have. Many of the hybrids can grow up to 10’ tall and wide and it is common in most gardens that they are not given enough space to reach their full maturity. This plant is often the victim of box-hedging and poor pruning habits. The flowers form at the tops of the branches so the poor pruning habits cut off all of the blooming potential, leaving a woody box or ball that sends out excessive amounts of growth to try and recover. If you would like this plant in your garden, it is best to select a hybrid that only grows the size that your space will support. All of the varieties are unparticular about the soil they will grow in, and they rarely require any fertilizer to thrive. Thinning is the best way to keep the shrub healthy and to ensure you will see the blooms when they emerge.