Lantana is a popular shrub grown in many homes as an ornamental plant. It is preferred due to its fast-growing feature and vibrant colored flowers that bloom from spring till frost. This annual is grown in baskets and attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and insect pollinators. The tubular flowers can be seen in various colours like lavender, yellow, orange, red and white. Lantana is best suited for wildlife plantings, rock gardens, borders, containers and hanging baskets. This article highlights the types, caring tips and many more aspects of hanging basket Lantana.
Characteristics of Lantana
Features
It is a fast-growing aromatic shrub used as a ground cover or for bordering. The tubular flowers change colours as the plant matures.
Growing Habit
The growth habit of Lantana depends on its varieties. Some varieties grow upright while others spread like a ground cover, making it ideal for hanging baskets.
Height and Width
Lantana can grow up to 1-6 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide.
Flower Size and Its Colours
The flowers have a tubular shape, and they bloom in rounded clusters. The best thing is that flowers change colour as they mature, which adds to the visual appeal of the garden.
Blooming Season
The best blooming season is from late spring through fall, but in warm weather, it flowers throughout the year.
Hardiness Zone
Lantana can thrive in hardiness zones 8-11 and can survive in drought, high heat conditions and can grow in poor soil.
Uses
Lantana can be used as ground cover, hedges, borders or accent plants. The vibrant flowers attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies, which makes it ideal for pollinator gardens.
Extent of Invasiveness
Some of the varieties of Lantana are invasive and grow rapidly, outcompeting the native vegetation. All this disrupts the ecosystem. Always select the non-invasive variety of Lantana to save the ecosystem.
Toxicity Level
All the parts of Lantana, like fruit, leaves and sap, contain toxic compounds which are harmful for humans, pets and livestock. Any exposure to Lantana can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils and laboured breathing in humans or pets. Be careful when planting Lantana and ensure there are no kids or pets around.
Types of Lantana
Lantana is available in three different varieties, each with distinct growth characteristics. For example, bush type grows between 3-4 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide, trailing forms reach up to 3 feet long, while dwarf Lantana grows up to 8-24 inches tall and wide. Here are the different types discussed below:
Bush Type- It can be grown in an upright container as an accent plant or along with other plants.
Trailing Type- This can be grown in hanging baskets or window boxes. The different trailing varieties are luscious grape, purple trailing verbena and spreading sunset.
Dwarf Variety- The dwarf varieties, such as bandana lemon zest, patriot rainbow compact and little lucky red, are suitable for small spaces and window boxes.
Pros and Cons of Lantana
Pros
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Lantana has a long lasting bloom, which means it gives bright flowers from spring to frost, maintaining a colourful garden.
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It enhances the biodiversity of the garden by attracting butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.
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It is even suitable for drought-prone areas and areas with poor soil and high heat. It can thrive in such areas.
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Lantana can repel certain garden pests like mosquitoes due to its aromatic foliage.
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Lantana can bloom all year round when grown in a warm climate.
Cons
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There are certain species of Lantana which are known to be invasive in Australia, South Africa and parts of the US. The invasive feature of Lantana competes with other native plants and disrupts the ecosystem.
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Lantana is toxic to pets, humans and livestock. If consumed, it may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and liver damage. It can even cause death to grazing animals.
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Lantana requires regular pruning and maintenance due to its invasive character.
Caring Tips for the Lantana Plant
The Right Container Size
Using the right size of container is an important caring tip to ensure root balls get enough space to take root in the container. If you plan to add other plants to the container, allow additional space. Also, ensure there are drainage holes in the container.
Enough Sunlight
Lantana needs a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight every day. Hence, place it at a location to ensure it blooms in full sunlight.
High-Quality Soil
Lantana requires well-drained soil for robust growth, so use high-quality potting soil. If needed, add sand, vermiculite or perlite to improve the drainage.
Regular Watering
Balanced watering is what Lantana needs. Though it’s a drought-tolerant plant, it needs regular watering, especially when grown in pots. Water them when the top 1-2 inches of the topsoil feels dry. Also, ensure proper air circulation to plants to avoid diseases. Overwatering should be avoided to prevent root rot.
Adequate Amount of Fertilizer
Plants grown in pots need more frequent fertilization than those grown in the ground because nutrients drain faster from the pot. When planting Lantana, use slow-releasing granular fertiliser in the soil and add water-soluble liquid fertiliser once a month throughout the growing season.
Right Pruning
Pruning is indeed an essential part of the caring tips to ensure healthy growth. Prune the spent flowers, cut the plant size to one-third, if the plants become leggy.
Best Companion for Lantana
Plants with similar growing conditions to Lantana prove to be the best companions for Lantana and create a beautiful landscape. Here is the list of the best companion plants for Lantana.
Sun-Loving Flowers and Annuals
Annuals that share the same water and light requirements are the best companion plants for Lantana because caring for them gets easier. Here is the list:
Zinnia- Lantana and Zinnia thrive in full sun and produce flowers from spring to fall.
Petunia and Calibrachoa- These two plants, along with Lantana, create a vibrant garden.
Scaevola- This plant, just like Lantana, is a drought and heat-tolerant plant, which makes it a perfect companion for sunny garden beds.
Hardy Perennials
Pair Lantana with drought-resistant and low-maintenance perennials, as all can grow under similar conditions. Here is the list of such hardy perennials:
Russian Sage- This hardy perennial produces lavender-blue flowers that add vertical beauty and contrast to the fiery bloom of Lantana.
Salvia- Salvia produces tall and spiky blooms that add vertical interest, especially when paired with Lantana. Both create layered garden beds.
Sedum- It’s a low-growing perennial that can be grown as a ground cover around the Lantana’s base. It fills the gaps with its lush green foliage and star-shaped flowers.
Plants With Contrasting Foliage
Pairing up Lantana with plants with contrasting foliage texture adds visual depth to the garden. Here is the list of such plants:
Dusty Miller- Dusty Miller produces silver grey foliage that works as a perfect contrast with Lantana’s red, yellow and orange blooms.
Coleus- It is known for its bold patterns and multicoloured foliage, which provides a beautiful contrast with Lantana’s floral display.
Conclusion
Lantana is a plant that can grow in the ground as well as in hanging pots. The benefits are many, and there are downsides to the plant, too. Lantana can thrive with a few caring tips discussed in this article. A few companion plants can provide contrast and create a vivid landscape.