Lantana (Lantana camara) is a tough, fast-growing flowering shrub famous for its rounded clusters of tiny flowers that often change colour as they age, creating a multicolour effect in yellow, orange, pink, red and white. Native to tropical America and naturalised widely in India, it blooms almost year-round and is a magnet for butterflies and bees. Extremely heat- and drought-tolerant, it thrives in full sun with little care and suits borders, hedges, hanging baskets and slopes. Note that it is invasive in many regions and its foliage and unripe berries are toxic to livestock and pets, so grow it responsibly.
Specifications
| Family |
Verbenaceae |
| Native region |
Tropical Americas |
| Mature height |
0.5-2 m |
| Mature spread |
1-2.5 m |
| Growth rate |
Fast |
| Foliage |
Evergreen, rough aromatic green leaves |
| Flower colour |
Yellow, orange, pink, red, white (multicolour) |
| Flower season |
Almost year-round in warm climates |
| Climate zone |
Tropical and subtropical |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Full sun for best flowering. |
| Watering |
Low; very drought-tolerant once established. |
| Soil / mix |
Well-drained soil; tolerates poor soils. |
| Temperature |
Thrives at 15-42°C; frost-tender. |
| Humidity |
Adapts to low and moderate humidity. |
| Fertilizer |
Light feeding; avoid excess nitrogen. |
| Pruning |
Prune hard to keep compact and blooming. |
| Repotting |
Repot every 1-2 years when root-bound. |
| Propagation |
Cuttings and seed. |
| Pests & problems |
Largely pest-free; occasional lace bug. |
| Toxicity / safety |
Toxic; foliage and unripe berries poisonous. |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
Uses
Grown for borders, informal hedges, slopes and hanging baskets and as a top butterfly nectar plant; choose sterile cultivars where it is invasive.
Growing tips
Plant in full sun in well-drained soil; it is extremely heat- and drought-hardy across India and flowers nearly year-round. Prune hard periodically to keep it compact and covered in flowers.