Lantana Camara - 0.5 kg Seeds

Lantana camara is a vigorous, aromatic evergreen shrub bearing dense, rounded clusters of small flowers that often open yellow or pink and age to orange and red, giving a multicoloured head. It is tough, sun-loving and flowers almost continuously in warm climates.

It is grown as an ornamental and as informal flowering hedges and screens, and is a magnet for butterflies and other pollinators while tolerating heat and drought with ease. It should be noted that, although widely planted, Lantana is an aggressive coloniser and is treated as an invasive weed in the Indian wild, so it is best kept to managed garden settings. It establishes on almost any well-drained soil in full sun.

• Family: Verbenaceae
• Native region: Tropical Central and South America
• Mature height: 1-3 m
• Growth rate: Fast

The seed is enclosed in small fleshy berries; clean off the pulp before sowing. Soak the cleaned seed in water for about 24 hours, sow shallowly in a warm, moist tray, and be patient as germination is irregular, often taking 30 or more days. Prick out and pot on the seedlings once they have a few true leaves.