Common Lantana

Lantana camara (lahn-TAHN-ah kah-MAR-ah)

Family: Verbenaceae Non-native Shrub (3-15 ft)

Lantana is an annual or perennial, small, broadleaf evergreen shrub in the verbena family (Verbenaceae), native to the West Indies and Mexico to Tropical America. The specific epithet is a Latin word that refers either to a vaulted room or a type of small boat. The meaning in this case is obscure. It prefers full sun in moist, well-drained soil but will tolerate poor soil and drought. It is known for its salt tolerance and will grow as a perennial in the warm coastal areas of North Carolina. Some varieties, such as ' Miss Huff ', ' Ham and Eggs ', and 'Chapel Hill Yellow' are frost-hardy in the Piedmont region. Lantana has woody stems but a sprawling habit, growing wider than tall. The showy flowers – attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators – appear from midsummer until the first frost and come in a wide range of colors. Lantana is often used as a houseplant, in hanging baskets, or in the border as a cultivated woody shrub or groundcover. This plant does grow quickly and aggressively, so plan its location accordingly. It is useful in butterfly or pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, or drought-tolerant gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Whiteflies and spider mites can affect plants kept over the winter. In certain parts of the world with more tropical climates, lantana is a weedy pest. Leaves and unripe, green berries can cause minor skin irritation. It is toxic to livestock such as cattle, sheep, horses, and goats. Some cultivars have shown excellent resistance to phytophthora. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 74 attributes.