| Lantana
camara Lantana,
Shrub Verbena
Lantana
is a fast growing tropical shrub that can grow to 6'
high and spread to over 8' wide. Lantana is an
excellent plant to grow in a border while the
low, spreading species (such as Lantana
montevidensis) are good groundcovers especially
on a canal bank or between shrubs.
Lantana
blooms from spring to fall with bright little
multi-colored flowers which are reminiscent of
old-fashioned Tart-N-Tiny candies. Hummingbirds
and Butterflies absolutely love the flowers.
Unfortunately
there are several bad things about Lantana that
you should consider before growing it in your
garden: 1) the bruised leaves smell like cat
urine, 2) all parts of the plant will cause
severe discomfort if ingested and contact with
foliage may irritate skin, 3) the plant spreads
like a weed. Lantana is invasive and while
native to the Caribbean it has escaped
cultivation and is naturalized in South Florida. |
"Gold Mound" Lantana
© Sarasota County IFAS
Click
image to enlarge
Purple Lantana
(L. montevidensis)
© Sarasota County IFAS
Click
image to enlarge |
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|
Lantana
fruit and leaves. Notice toothed stems.
Click
image to enlarge |
Plant
Facts:
Common Name:
Lantana,
Wild Sage, White Sage, Sage, Shrub Verbena, Big Sage,
Cambara de espinho, Korsu wiwiri, Cariaquillo, Yellow
Sage
Botanical Name:
Lantana camara
Family: Verbenaceae
Plant Type:
Evergreen shrub
Origin:
Tropical North, Central and South America
Zones:
8 - 11
Height: 12"
- 8'
Rate of Growth: Fast
Salt Tolerance:
Very tolerant of salt spray
Soil Requirements:
Sandy, well drained, moderately fertile soil
Water Requirements:
Drought resistant
Nutritional Requirements: Balanced
liquid fertilizer monthly
Light Requirements: Full
sun
Form:
Spreading groundcover or tall and wide bush
Leaves:
Medium green, toothed, hairy and rough.
Borne in opposite pairs or whorls of 3.
Flowers:
Small, 5-lobed, salverform,
grouped tightly into rounded, flattened or domed,
terminal heads. Color choices range from white to
yellow, pink, salmon-pink, red, purple or combinations
of the colors above.
Fruits:
Fleshy 2 seeded drupe turning from green to
metallic blue when ripe; green fruit is poisonous for animals and
humans, ripe fruit is consumed by birds which spread the
seeds
Pests or diseases:
Whiteflies, spider mites, rust, virus
disease, root knot, nematode, stem rot and leaf spot
Uses:
Mixed beds and borders.
Adds color to shrub groupings. Tolerates salt spray and can be used in beach plantings. Good container plant.
Bad Habits:
All parts may cause severe discomfort if
ingested. Contact with plant can irritate the skin.
Lantana can be invasive, but hybrids are said to have a lesser tendency to naturalize in sub-tropical areas.
Cost: $$ --
Very reasonable
Propagation:
Seeds and cuttings
Sources:   American
Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants
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