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Lantana propagation

How can I propagate it?

Lantana should be propagated in mid-summer and fall from greenwood or semi- ripe stem cuttings. Make 3 inch cuttings off non-flowering shoots. Strip off any leaves that come in contact with rooting medium and the lantanasoil.  Dip the ends in a hormone rooting medium and insert in a moist, well drained, soil made of peat moss and sand or perlite. Cuttings also root well in rockwood plugs.   Cover the container with a clear plastic bag and keep in a spot with bright filtered light. It should root in 2-3 weeks. When you see new growth emerging uncover your container and place it in brighter light and start to lightly fertilize every 2 weeks to promote healthy new growth. When the plants have about 2-3 inches of new growth, pinch the tips to encourage bushy growth. The following spring repot plants in individual pots. Young rooted plants usually bloom more profusely than older plants.

Lantana can also be started from seeds sown early in the spring. Plant them in late winter. Germination for lantana is 42-60 days and seeds should be planted 1/8″ deep in peaty soil.  Another trick is to soak the seeds in hot water for 24 hrs. before planting.

Seed grown plants may have a variation in color and quality of the original plant. Newer varieties of hybrids produce less seeds which may be sterile.
The above method of propagation may be used on many other plants.

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July 8th, 2009 | Tags: | Category: Garden Review, Lantana, PERENNIALS | 75 comments
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75 comments to Lantana propagation

  • Dennis
    March 28th, 2005 at 5:52 pm · Reply

    My lantana has white spots on the leaves, which are very leathery. Any suggestions?

    Lantana normally will exude a white sap from the leaves that can become white, leathery spots when dry. This sap is used in soap, and medicine.

  • Jeffries
    June 9th, 2005 at 2:30 pm · Reply

    Do you need to remove the berries after the blooms have faded to encourage additional blooms?

    Yes, the berries are there to produce seeds and take energy away from flower production. By removing them, the plant will continue to utilize its energies to produce flowers.

  • Anonymous
    June 15th, 2005 at 4:06 pm · Reply

    Are lantana poisonous??

    Yes, it is poisonous. It contains lantanin and other compounds that cause gastric intestinal irritation to animals and humans. All parts are poisonous, including the berries. Not all species of lantana are toxic. To be on the safe side, avoid any lantana consumption. Check out the U of GA website for more details.

    Tammy ( spittle_tammy@bellsouth.net / )
    My son rubbed up against a Lantana plant that was planted outside a store establishment, and broke out in a rash.. It almost looked like poison Ivy. Could someone please tell me why this plant would do this?

    Lantana contains lantanin, a triterpenoid and other compounds which can irritate stomach lining as well as the skin. All parts of the plant are toxic, and some people are more sensitive to the plant than others. The berries are poisonous.
    source> WV State U.

  • Shelanco
    June 22nd, 2005 at 3:18 pm · Reply

    Something is attacking my lantana. The leaves are lossing their color and wiltering, with black or burnt – looking lplaces around the edges. This the second season this has happened. Help

    Although Lantana doesn’t seem to have to many pests & diseases; some types are susceptible to fusarium wilt and pythium root rot, ( fungal diseases). On the other hand you could be overwatering it, they like it on the dry side. Try planting it in a different spot next year, and look for resistant varieties.

  • Michelle
    June 27th, 2005 at 9:54 am · Reply

    I find it difficult to believe anyone would want to plant/propagate lantana; it’s one of the worst pasture pests we have in Hawaii. If you want to kill it, it is sensitive to Glyphosate. Nothing else works…

  • Gary
    July 2nd, 2005 at 10:06 am · Reply

    I was fertilizing my lawn with weed & feed and threw some in my lantana. It wilted a bit and the flowers are now gone (one week later). Anyway I can revive it? Will it come back?

    Lantana needs little fertilizer, with too much it will stop flowering, unfortunately the weed part may have injured your plant. If just the flowering is affected not the rest of the plant then, I think it will revive. Water it (not too much)and hopefully the chemical will leach out of the soil.

    I asked for help (7/2/2005) about having used weed and feed in my lantana. The additional watering you advised worked great! This was, by far, it’s best summer ever… over 4 feet in height and very bushie. Not looking forward to winter and having to cut it back.

    Thanks for the comment!! Don’t worry it will grow back even better – if you have to prune it again

  • Scott
    August 14th, 2005 at 4:07 pm · Reply

    PRUNING LANTANA

    I was just wondering if & when the best time is to trim/prune lantana , & the best method to do so

    Hi Scott
    Best time to prune lantana is after they go dormant or before new growth starts in the spring to remove old growth. During the growing season you can prune anytime to remove old flowers and berries also to maintain a compact growing habit. Cut dead canes to the ground in mid-winter, if the roots survived new green growth will emerge from the base of the plant in the spring. Lantana will not survive in colder climates and is grown as an annual.

    denise ( antman2@earthlink.net / ) (IP: 24.110.42.234 )
    Scott commnded on 8-14-05 about how and when to cut back lantana? I live in Florida and I went a little overboard hedging my lantana. Now it looks like an eyescore. The branches and brown and straggly but there seems to be some green growth coming on them. Some say I should cut it all the way to the ground. I am afraid to do so because I want it to grow back quickly. What should I do? I have a purple and a yellow lantana growing together, and I don’t expect any cold weather until after December. Confused and desperate!

    You have the option of cutting it down further because you have enough time for it to grow back. Since there are signs of new growth on your already pruned branches, I would let that grow because it will fill in faster than if you pruned it to the ground. If you prune back too late in the season you may run the risk of freezing the new tender growth.

    denise
    I commended on 8-19-05 about been desperate and confused about cutting my lantana back just a little too far. Well, I took your advise and left it alone and low and behold my lantana is growing like a weed. I must share that I that experimented with liquid ironnite and it really made a difference. the lantana is healthy and flowers are beginning to bloom. Try using it I works ! Denise from Florida
    Thanks for your comment Denise!!

    ALISON SMITH
    WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TRIM MY LANTANA IN NORTH CAROLNA

    Prune in the spring around the 2nd week in March before new growth emerges.

  • Tina
    August 17th, 2005 at 8:14 pm · Reply

    Dennis commented on 3-28-05 about white spot on his lantana. I also am having that problem on New Gold Lantana. How do I fix this problem?

    I need more information. Are these little white spots all over the leaf? Does the leaf have a dull yellow-mottled grayish look to it? We have to determine if it is an insect or a disease. Check for spider mites. Place a piece of white paper at the underside of a leaf and tap on the top of the leaf-see if there are any tiny specs moving on the paper. Look for spider webs in the leaf axils and underside of the leaf (a magnifying glass works well). If there are you have spider mites. Otherwise, we’re back to square one. In addition, Lantana will ooze a white sap from the leaves which will become leathery. Ther is no harm to the plant.

  • Nicola
    March 6th, 2006 at 4:03 am · Reply

    I just want to know what is the life cycle of lantana?

    Depends on where you live. In the north, Lantana is grown as an annual; Grows fast and will bloom most of the summer requiring little care. In the warmer climates, it is grown as a perennial(hardy zone 9-12) and blooms even longer. It can be trimmed back in early spring to promote new growth. In parts of Hawaii, it grows like a weed and is considered an invasive plant.

  • Dave Cran
    September 18th, 2006 at 11:11 pm · Reply

    Winterover lantana
    I live in Colo.—cold winters. Can I bring in potted lantana and put it in a crawl space which is dark and moderate temperature?

    Storing lantana in the crawl space should work. Keep an eye on it occassionaly so the soil doesn’t completely dry out(bone dry).

  • Bert Lindsey
    September 27th, 2006 at 2:18 am · Reply

    I have several colors and sizes of lantana that did well this year in zone 7. Now they all have berries, from new to wrinkled and black. What would the optimal time be to pick these berries for planting next year; new and green/red, or dry and black?

    thanks ahead of time for the reply

    The dry and black seeds should be ripe enough to pick. They are poisonous so keep away from children and pets.

  • cherie
    January 4th, 2007 at 5:00 pm · Reply

    I live in Hawaii and hired professionals to plant Lantana in pots along my driveway where it would receive full sun most of the day. It is watered automatically twice a day. It did well for about 2 months but now I’ve noticed that the leaves are turning yellow and the buds have turned black. I don’t see flowers anymore. Any ideas what could be the problem?

    Aloha,
    I suspect the overwatering may be the problem. Twice a day may be too much, lantana like it better on the dry side. Too much water can cause root rot caused by a fungus. Cut back on the watering, make sure that it gets a chance to dry out between waterings.

    Hi,
    Thanks for your help! As you had suspected, it was the overwatering that was killing my plants! I stopped watering, let it dry out and soon enough, I saw flowers! Not even a month has passed and there are flowers again. Mahalo (Thanks!)
    -cherie
    You are welcome!

  • Juliet
    April 4th, 2007 at 7:12 pm · Reply

    I noticed several leaves have turned distinctly yellow with brown tips, and have gone crispy. This is occuring on three of my four lantanas (the red/yellow-blossom ones — the purple-blossom one is unaffected). It isn’t bad yet, but I’m afraid something might be wrong. I live in Phoenix and water them about every other day.

    You may want to cut back on the watering-they like it on the dry side and to much water can rot the roots causing yellow leaves and brown tips.

  • LeAnne Casey
    May 30th, 2007 at 6:36 am · Reply

    My sunset lantana looks just as it did last year except some of the blooms will come in a pale funny color. Is this normal? Can I fix it?

    The flower color may be affected by the amount of sunlight, temperature, ph of the soil and nutrients the plant is getting at this time. The flower color on lantana can also change as they age.

  • adrienne
    June 24th, 2007 at 5:52 pm · Reply

    Does Lantana like alkaline or Acidic soil? Does it need iron if the leaves are yellowing? I live in DFW Texas area. 3 out of 7 Lantanas are getting yellow leaves. I have done Miracle Grow 2 times in the past 2 weeks…blooms and size of plants have doubled. WE are getting TONS of rain here though. Not sure it the yellowing is due to all the rain or if they need more acid or iron?

    Lantana prefers slightly acid soil with a ph of 6.5 or lower. They usually don’t require much fertilization – too much will cause them to bloom less and become susceptible to disease. Although there are some varieties of lantana that are heavier feeders and get fertilized every 2 wks. I would suspect too much rain as the yellowing problem and hold off on the Miracle Grow for now. The roots may be drowning from all the rain. Lantana prefers well drained moist but not wet soil and are drought tolerant.

  • cherie
    July 12th, 2007 at 3:28 am · Reply

    I can’t seem to get the right amount of watering. Very hot during the day and when I notice my lantana, it looks dead. Isn’t it drought resistant? Or is that only when planted in the ground? When I water, then it turns yellow and brown. What am I missing?

    Lantana tolerates dry conditions BUT when its very hot and its growing in a container it will dry out much faster than if it was growing in the ground. On very hot days even full sun plants may need to move it to a shaded area just to survive the heat. Hanging baskets should be kept evenly moist and not be allowed to dry out completely. When a basket dries to the wilting point and then is deluged with water it causes a lot of stress on the plant resulting in yellow /brown leaves.

  • Celia Walker
    July 18th, 2007 at 10:30 am · Reply

    LANTANA FROM SEEDS
    I live in central New Jersey. Each year I spend a lot of money on lantana. How can I perserve them from year to year? Will they flourish indoors? How should I handle the seeds and when should they be planted & how?

    You can bring them into the basement to winter over in a semi-dormant stage , a garage would also work as long as temps don’t get below freezing . Another alternative is to overwinter them indoors in a sunny window or take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer to start new plants. The seeds are black when they are ripe. Plant them in late winter.Germination for lantana is 42-60 days and seeds should be planted 1/8″ deep in peaty soil. Another trick is to soak the seeds in hot water for 24 hrs. before planting.

  • Jo Ann White
    July 22nd, 2007 at 3:56 pm · Reply

    Hi, I also live in Phoenix and have had yellow/orange lantana bordering my front yard for at least 15 years. I cut it back every year after the frost and it grows back beautiful. This year, however, all my lantana is dying. It has always been watered the same way, when the sprinklers are on and it shoots over them. Any suggestions? I am not doing anything different this year. We had a very hard freeze this year however.

    Eventhough things may be the same, your plants may have been stressed and weakened from the freeze. Under favorable conditions lantana will grow for many years and come back from the roots but when it is stressed too often from factors such as drought, hard freeze, overwatering , too much shade then it can slowly die. You need to determine what factors your plant is suffering from-perhaps too much water? Is the sprinkler leaking more water on the plants than you thought or are the plants too dry?

  • Sylvia
    September 19th, 2007 at 10:36 am · Reply

    In the spring my lantanas burst forth in bloom.These blossoms last a long time but when they fall off, the plants don’t bloom anymore that year.I thought lantana was a repeat bloomer.What do I need to do?

    Lantana should blooms all summer. One thing you can do is to prune back the tip growth and lightly fertilize to promote new lateral growth and more flowers. They need full sun and little fertilizer as too much will produce much green growth and no flowers. Flowering will also decline when the plant is allowed to produce seeds(berries).

  • Monica
    September 26th, 2007 at 1:53 am · Reply

    Someone gave me a lantana plant about eight months ago when it was just a tiny sprout — they had no idea what it was, and I didn’t either, so I just tossed it in a reasonably-sized pot and let it do its thing. I finally managed to identify it the other day, and… my poor plant doesn’t look the way it’s apparently supposed to. It’s about a foot and a half tall, with a woody stem up to the last six inches, where it has big full leaves. It seems healthy and happy, but lantanas are supposed to be *bushes*, right? Is there anything I can do at this point to turn my Lantana Tree into something resembling what it’s supposed to look like?

    Pruning Lantana: In warmer climates, lantana can be grown as a bush up to 4-6 ft. tall (depending on cultivar), otherwise as an annual or perennial. It can be tip pruned periodically during the summer to maintain a bushy shape and produce more flowers. If it gets too big you can cut it back by 1/3 during the growing season. It sounds like you need to give it a hard pruning by cutting the plant back 6 inches above the ground. Hard pruning should be done in the spring to avoid cold damage in winter.
    source:clemson.edu

  • Vivian
    October 10th, 2007 at 9:55 am · Reply

    My lantana is huge I want to bring it indoors for the winter. Do I need to dig it up and place it in a pot and keep it in the basement? OR can I propagate it to make new starts for next Spring? OR can I do both?

    If you need to bring it indoors because it is not hardy in your area, pot it up and keep it in the basement, garage or crawl space. Be sure it doesn’t get exposed to below freezing temperatures. Give it low light and little water so the plant doesn’t dry out. Prune in early spring anything that might have died over the winter. Best time to propagate lantana is spring/summer with new established growth. Another option is to keep it indoor as a houseplant.

  • Heather
    November 29th, 2007 at 11:01 pm · Reply

    My neighbor gave me 4 white lantana plants that are potted. I live in middle Tennessee and they have suffered through a few frosty nights before I got them. The stems are brown and the pot is filled with dead leaves. All the leaves on the plant still are crispy. There are dried up berries on the tips of each one. Can these plants be saved as they look totally dead? Should I just pick the berries, toss the current plants and start over, prune it back to 6 inches above or leave it as it is and hope for the best?

    Leave them as they are until winter is over then trim the plants in early spring. If they survive the winter they should show signs of new growth when the weather warms up. The roots are most likely still alive and the plant is “resting” thru the winter. Store the pots in a protected area away from freezing temperatures. You can also try starting new plants from seeds. Be aware the seeds are poisonous.

  • Bill
    January 6th, 2008 at 5:15 pm · Reply

    We live in LA, lantana loves it here. We have one large bush that lives in semi-shade. Its leaves have a lot of brown spots on them, though the plant keeps growing and flowering. No nearby plant has these spots. We never fertilize it, the soil is sandy. It gets sprinkled twice a day for 2 minutes, but it had these spots before we got the sprinklers. Any ideas? We haven’t had good luck transplanting such large lantana – they really get shocked badly.

    It’s hard to determine what is causing the brown spots. Two possibilities are a leaf spot caused by a fungus (Pseudocercospora guianensis) or Lantana lace bugs- they feed on the underside of leaves but the damage shows up on the upper surface. The insect also leaves brown patches of black droplets of excrement on the underside of the leaves. At this point, I would eliminate the water sprinkling on the leaves. If it is a fungus you are giving it the right environment to continue growing. You may want to take a specimen in to an extension office for ID. source: ifas.ufl.edu

  • B.R.A.N.D.O.N..
    February 19th, 2008 at 12:33 pm · Reply

    PRUNING LANTANA

    hi i live in las vegas and i work in apartments all of my lantanas are dying/dead they are just sticks is there anyway to get them back and if so how? watering,feed, a good kick in the ass i just dont know

    Cut the sticks back leaving 3-4 inch stumps and make sure the plants aren’t totally dried out. If they are water them enough to keep the roots moist not soaked. If the roots are alive, they should sprout new leaves when the weather starts to warm up. Once you get new growth give them a dose of 10-10-10 or a balanced fertilzer to jump start or as you say give them a good kick in the ass.

  • sheila hamilton
    March 6th, 2008 at 1:33 pm · Reply

    I have both yellow and purple lantana planted in the same area. they get full sun and water as needed. my yellow plant produces loads of flowers but my purple plants on produce a few….very few. my favorite color is purple…..

    Seeing that all variables are the same, water and sun, I’m also presuming that you are not fertilizing either plant as fertilizer can cause the plant to produce lots of leaves and little flowers. I have found that the yellow lantana is a hardy bloomer, whereas some of the colored hybrids don’t preform as well.

  • denise
    May 8th, 2008 at 7:31 pm · Reply

    I have had a lantana under a tree for many years and now there seems to be a lot of bush weeds growing thoughout the entire plant. What should I use to kill these weeds? It seem that pulling them out is impossible. Do you have any suggestions that would not harm the plant. I have a lot of empty spots from pulling the weeds out, but now all that grows back is more weeds HELP.

    HI Denise
    Good old fashioned pulling weeds is what does the best & safest job. Because the weeds are growing throughout the plant, any weeds sprayed with an herbicide will also harm the plant. When you pull them out, cover the empty spots with several layers of newspaper or black plastic and put 2-3 inches of mulch on top, this should keep the weeds from resprouting and eventually kill them. Be vigilant and keep cutting away the interspersed weeds in your lantana and eventually they will give up.

  • dian rice
    June 25th, 2008 at 3:05 pm · Reply

    1. DOES MIRACLE GROW STOP LANTANA FROM BLOOMING?

    2. WHAT DO THE BERRIES YOU TALK ABOUT LOOK LIKE?

    HI Dian
    Lantana requires little fertilizer-too much will cause them to produce more leaves and little or no flowers.
    The berries are produced on the flower heads. They start as small green “balls” and eventually turn black. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2727896520029319295excVmg

  • Angela
    July 22nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm · Reply

    I noticed my lantana leaves are being eaten away by some sort of bug, and it appears they are these tiny, tiny black things on the leaves that are loosely attached. Are they bugs of some sort? Not only are the leaves being eaten, it now is not blooming quite as much.

    If it is a bug, what can I do to control them?

    Hi Angela
    I’m not sure what it is. The tiny black thing can be fecal droppings from an insect. Look closely at the plant and see if there is some type of bug feeding on the leaves.

  • Kolenna
    August 31st, 2008 at 4:19 pm · Reply

    Planting time for lantana
    We live in Zone 7 (West Texas) and need to know the best time to plant lantana in the yard.

    Thanks

    Hi Kolena
    The best time to plant lantana would be in the spring after danger of frost is over. Lantana can be marginally hardy and winters over in some parts of Texas.

  • curtis
    September 8th, 2008 at 4:04 pm · Reply

    I live in Arizona and have some Lantana let’s say 50 on one zone and the the average weather right now is 106 degrees and like every 4th lantana is stressed or dead. what would be causing this?

    HI Curtis
    Off hand, I would say that the hot temperatures have something to do with the plants dying. Typically, lantana are heat loving plants but a combination of drying winds, lack of moisture and heat can push it over the edge. Be sure they get enough water during the heat wave and add mulch to retain moisture in the soil . Heat stress can weaken the plant and make it susceptible to insect damage as well as disease. IF your plants died from heat stress, don’t give up entirely, they may send out new growth.

  • Kathi
    September 15th, 2008 at 11:33 am · Reply

    I have some beautiful lantana growing in concrete planters in full AZ sun. As I was trimming the other day, I found that a HUGE white fungus had surrounded the base of the plant. It is about 8-10″ in diameter, and 3+ inches high. I removed what I could of it, but how do I get rid of it for good? Thank you.

    Hi Kathi
    Something in the soil is decomposing and the fungus is thriving on it. You may need to replace some of the old soil to freshen up the container.

  • Suzanne
    October 8th, 2008 at 5:07 pm · Reply

    I love growing the circus-y colors of Lantana here in central NJ. It is one beautiful summer flower the voracious deer will not eat! I am anxious to try overwintering a few plants in our cellar this winter. The grower I purchased many rooted cuttings from this Spring says there are mixed results when trying to start from seed..

  • Dianne
    October 11th, 2008 at 11:49 am · Reply

    The branches on my lantana have very neat rows of white fuzzy dots. I’m having no luck identifying them. Any idea?
    Thanks
    Dianne

    Hi Dianne
    Check out this pdf from Texas A&M Agrilife Ext. http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/publications/results_keyword.cfm?keyword=lantana&sort=pub_number.
    Other than insects such as mealy bugs, it’s also possible that the neat rows of dots on your lantana can be insect eggs. If all fails take a sample to your local Extension office for ID.

  • Connie Wallace
    October 28th, 2008 at 6:33 am · Reply

    My potted lantana is full of green leaves but has stopped blooming. It has tiny black shriveled buds where blooms should be. It almost looks as if something stung the buds before they were able to fully develop. I live in College Station, TX, and the plant was in full sun from early morning until just past noon, consequently it required watering every morning or it would wilt. I did fertilize it months ago thinking that that was the problem before I read your website. I think that it may have leaf miners to add to its problems. What is a safe spray to use for insect infestation? Do you have other suggestions? Thank you, Connie

    Hi Connie
    Your plant needs full sun for at least 6 hrs. to continuously bloom. You could check for insects which may be causing the problem but being this late in the season it is not worth spraying the plant. You don’t mention if the plant is growing in the ground or a container. You may have to move it to a sunnier spot.
    For insect infestation try repeated doses on Neem oil. Another alternative is Orthene, a systemic pesticide that renders the whole plant poisonous but should be used with much caution and not indoors. Follow manufacturer directions.
    Cut the plant back to 6 inches in Feb.or before new grow starts to get rid of any eggs or wintering bugs.

  • Jackie
    November 18th, 2008 at 6:56 pm · Reply

    I live in the Philadelphia suburb area and I have a beautiful Lantana that I am worried will not make it through the night tonight. Is there anything I can do to protect it from the cold? Would placing a sheet over it help? Should I put a heat source of some sort under the sheet? Please hurry.

    HI Jackie
    Cover it with a sheet or blanket overnight. You need to find a place to store it such as a basement, garage for the winter as it will not survive outdoors in PA.

  • Keith
    January 2nd, 2009 at 7:46 pm · Reply

    Lantana watering problem
    I live in Hawaii and have owned a lantana in a pot for 18 months. My neighbors have a lot of success with it. Mine was on a drip system but out in the open for sun. In early fall, it started turning brown and stopped blooming. I sprayed for bugs and gave it fertilizer and it came back. Not so much blooms but it was all green. Then, I went on Xmas vacation for 8 days and put it further out in the open to be watered by the rains. It is rainy season now; and it did storm. (Another reason for taking it off drip is my drip timer needs replacement). I came home and all my other plants were healthy, and well watered but the lantana was all brown and dead looking. Do you think I can resuscitate it? What should I try? What do you think caused this? Thanks.

    Hi Keith
    It sounds like you might have a watering problem. If it already isn’t, I would keep the plant off the drip system-the roots may be staying wet too long and rotting. The plant needs to dry out between watering especially in the slow growing season. Does your container have a drain hole where excess water can escape? If it is getting lots of rain and there is no where for the water to go the plant will sit in soaked soil and rot. You may have to replant your lantana. IF you do trim the plant by 1/3 .

  • Margaret
    January 11th, 2009 at 10:29 am · Reply

    When I bought my Lantana plant the tag said good to 20 degrees F. It did not get lower than 28 this winter but it looks like it froze back. Any thoughts? It is too early to tell if it will recover. Thank you

    Hi Margaret
    Your lantana is dormant at this time. The leaves and stems will turn brown and brittle with freezing temperatures. As long as the roots aren’t damaged, your lantana should regrow in spring when temperatures warm up. In late winter, cut back any dead and dried stems up to 6 ” from the ground to encourage new bushy growth.

  • Gary
    January 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pm · Reply

    I want my lantana to grow to 5-6 feet. If I don’t prune it at all this early spring, will that help? And, if I must cut “dead wood” how do I test exactly where the dead wood is? (scrape the bark to check for green stuff?)
    Thanks for you page, I re-read it every year!

    Hi Gary
    It is not necessary to prune lantana every year. They do have a tendency to get straggly with age and that’s why some will cut it back to maintain a bushier shape. However, dead wood should be pruned out not only for aesthetic reasons but also for healthy reasons. Old dead wood can harbor disease and insects. Wait till the plant starts to grow again and you will be able to determine which stems are dead. Also scraping for the green stuff works.

  • Lisa
    February 13th, 2009 at 10:29 am · Reply

    Lantana from seed
    I am not quite sure how or when to plant lantana seeds.

    Hi Lisa
    The seeds are black when they are ripe. Plant them in late winter.Germination for lantana is 42-60 days and seeds should be planted 1/8″ deep in peaty soil. Another trick is to soak the seeds in hot water for 24 hrs. before planting.

  • Tessa at Blunders with shoots, blossoms 'n roots
    February 21st, 2009 at 4:01 pm · Reply

    Grow Lantana from seed
    Hello,

    I just now sowed some Lantana seed I purchased from Thompson & Morgan. I soaked them overnight in warm water. When I went to sow them I noticed that only a few had sunk to the bottom of the container. Not sure if this is a viability problem or not. I sifted some fine compost on top with a sifter and set them on a heat mat with a thermostat set to 70. I have read that they need high light to germinate- is this true? Thanks and happy gardening!

    Hi Tessa,
    Yes, Lantana need warm temperatures (72-76F) and light to germinate. When planting press the seed lightly into soil. Some sources say sprinkle 1/8″ of vermiculite over the seeds. If you sprinkled some fine compost, I wouldn’t worry about it. Hopefully, some of it will wash off or sink into the soil. Place the container in a plastic bag or cover it with plastic wrap to maintain moisture and humidity. Keep the container under fluorescent lights for 14-16 hrs/day at 2″-3″ height. It should take 42-60 days to germinate.

  • Dennis
    March 7th, 2009 at 10:30 am · Reply

    My wife bought a bunch of lantana’s last year. We’re in central Florida. They say we had a colder than normal winter. The plants look completely dead, except there looks like new growth coming at the roots. Do I completely cut them back to the new growth? Thanks…..

    HI Dennis
    You may eventually have to cut it back to the new growth, but I would wait a little longer before doing that. There may be a chance that some of the stems will also send out new growth.

  • sara cross
    March 15th, 2009 at 4:50 pm · Reply

    Deadhead lantana
    Do I dead-head the spent flowers of my lantana? I have the purple, yellow, orange and the beautiful white lantana. The white appears to look like “snow” around our screened patio…beautiful!!! Thank you for your time…sara

    Hi Sara
    It’s a good idea to remove the spent flowers so that they don’t produce seeds. Seed production takes away from more flower production.

  • Debra
    March 28th, 2009 at 6:49 am · Reply

    We just bought some bandana cherry lantana toplant in the front of our beds. They will get full GA sun all afternoon. Does lantana spread like a groundcover or just grow like a bush?

    HI Debra
    Most lantana is a low growing plant that will grow 18-24″ Tall and spread 24-36″ . It has a mounting growth habit more like a groundcover. http://www.naturehills.com/product/lantana_bandana_cherry.aspx

  • Diana
    April 23rd, 2009 at 7:40 pm · Reply

    I live in Ohio. I dug up and brought my lantana into the garage last fall. Now I have 6 to 8 inch stems sprouting all over the plants. Should I pinch back this new growth when I plant in the the garden? (We had a rain/snow mix the other day so I am waiting a few weeks to plant).

    Hi Diana
    Yes, pinch back the stems. By trimming your lantana will be bushier and fuller when starts to grow in the garden.

  • DBD
    May 7th, 2009 at 5:59 am · Reply

    Lantana not blooming
    I planted lantana last summer and it had lots and lots of blooms. In late November I cut the Lantana back to the ground (I did not know I was not supposed to do this). Now the plant is green and growing but it does not have a single bloom on it. It gets 6 hours of full sun everyday. I live in Georgia and we have had a good bit of rain lately. Do you think this could be causing my lantana not to bloom? If so, what can I do to help the plant bloom.

    HI
    It sounds like it growing great. The fuller the plant the more flowers you will eventually get. The rain should not affect blooming as long as the soil drain well, although they do like it on the dry side. Be patient Lantana will bloom. You don’t mention fertilizer. Lantana do not require a lot of fertilizer and too much esp. Nitrogen will cause more green growth and no flowers. In your case you can give it a light 1/2 dose of a blooming fertilizer (higher middle #) that may encourage it to bloom.

  • Lauren
    May 13th, 2009 at 4:49 pm · Reply

    I live in AZ and just planted some lantana in my front yard. It is now 3 days later and some of my plants look wilted. Could I be over watering them? Any suggestions? Thanks!
    Lauren

    Hi Lauren
    Your lantana is in transplant shock right now and needs time to adjust to the new environment. If you can provide some shade and until it is acclimated. Water thoroughly and then wait till the top 1″ is dry before watering again. In general lantana don’t require to much water.

  • Michael
    May 14th, 2009 at 11:38 am · Reply

    I live in Phoenix, and am looking at planting lantanas to add some color to my front yard in a home I recently purchased. I don’t have an irrigation system in my front yard. For lantanas (probably 3 or 4 of them, spaced apart from each other), do I need to have an irrigation system before planting? (I may add one later, but right now, working on other projects in the home that take priority) Or can I water them by hand once or twice a day? Additionally, with our weather here starting to heat up (the next 10 days will be mostly sunny – sunny and temperatures between 97-102 every day), is it too late to plant with the sunshine/heat? Do I need to wait until the fall or winter to plant? If not, any other tips when planting? Thanks in advance!

    Hi Michael
    Watering lantana by hand is fine. With high temperatures, lantana may wilt and sulk for a few days after planting but should re-adjust. It would acclilmate much faster in cooler temperatures. If possible, provide some shade during this time and make sure the plant doesn’t dry out during the heat wave. Once established, they can tolerate dry conditions.

  • Neil
    May 23rd, 2009 at 4:30 pm · Reply

    I live in Berkeley, CA and have lots of lantana doing well in the ground. About 3 weeks ago I placed 2 white lantana in a large pot in full sun with a drip line to the pot. The previously bright white flowers are now somewhat grey and dull but still on the plant. The leaves look fine. These lantana in the pot are getting the same amount of water that the white lantana plants in the ground are getting, but in a large pot and not the ground. Any ideas as to why the noticeable dulling of the flowers?
    Thanks very much.

    Hi Neil
    I think it may be a water issue. I suspect the potted lantana is getting more water than it can utilize. The soil is too wet and is causing some root stress. Does the container have a drainage hole?

  • Marilyn
    May 30th, 2009 at 9:45 am · Reply

    I was so proud of the beautiful yellow lantana I planted yesterday. This morning I could not wait to show off to my husband. I couldn’t believe my eyes….something had methodicaly snipped off the stems to an inch above the ground. Does anyone know what critter is that could be so cruel? What do I do to prevent this being repeated. :(

  • Paulette
    June 3rd, 2009 at 3:46 pm · Reply

    I’ve had my lantana over 12 years and each year they have bloomed beautifully. They are the purple variety. This year they are not blooming. I have not cut them back yet or fertilized them yet. What to do?

    Hi Paulette
    Trim back up to 1/3 the plants and fertilze lightly (1/2 dose) to encourage new growth and flowering Older plants can get woody and can be cut back to 6-12 inches from the ground in early spring.

  • Bob M
    June 12th, 2009 at 5:44 am · Reply

    I have what some may call the non hearty annual Lantana. Sorry, I do not have the name but it is compact and very dense.

    The garden shop told me I may get them to survive by cutting them down over winter and I did. I live in the Atlanta area.

    This year 3 of them sprouted back and they are filled with lush green foliage but not one flower in sight. I planted several other new ones and they are doing great. The 3 from last year are now about the same size as the new ones but not one bud or flower.

    Any ideas?

    Thanks Bob

  • Soraya
    June 14th, 2009 at 6:29 pm · Reply

    I live in eest Texas in El Paso where the lantana seems to be a favorite plant for garden beds and they apparently do excellent here as I see them flourishing everywhere. So i decided they would be a beautiful splash of color for my bed, BUT when I bought some Lantanas from Lowes, they immediately look like they are dying. This is my second attempt and took alot of care preparing the soil with no avail. When I see wilting I don’t know what to think because I know they are drought tolerant and so I don’t know if I should water them and how much? What is too much? Can they be revived? How?

    Hi Soraya
    Lantana is drought tolerant when it is an established plant. Initially, a newly planted lantana should receive enough water to keep the soil moist so that the roots can grow and expand. Give it a good soaking and then water, again when the top 2″ of soil is dry.

  • joyce murphy
    June 17th, 2009 at 5:51 pm · Reply

    i have a lantana tree. I would like to make some cuttings into some other lantanna trees: what can i do to make this possible my gold n orange tree is almost 6 ft tall, very aromatic and full.

    Hi Joyce
    The article above will tell you how to propagate your lantana from tip cuttings.

  • Michele
    June 21st, 2009 at 1:41 pm · Reply

    I live in coastal North Carolina and have lantana that have been growing for over ten years that have spread out to cover a large area. Is it possible to sub-divide some of these plants so I can start growing mature plants in another location? If so, when is the best time to of the year to move them.

    Hi Michelle
    The best time to divide and transplant lantana is in late fall or early winter when they are not actively growing.

  • bob rose
    June 30th, 2009 at 11:31 am · Reply

    I have few yellow lantana and a few purple the yellow are starting to turn brown and looks like a white fly and the flowers are being eaten what can i do to get ride of the pests. they only attack the yellow and not the purple ones.

    Hi Bob
    Whitefly are attracted to yellow color.

  • Gloriann O'Brien
    July 6th, 2009 at 7:21 am · Reply

    We have had the same yellow lantana in our garden for 10 years. We prune it back at the end of every winter. It blooms beautifully and gets big. However, the last few years it blooms until July then stops and the leaves get stiff and dry. We have actually cut it back in July and it has grown back by the end of the summer and flowered again. Why is this happening? The Lantana is in a wall, gets plenty of sun and not a lot of water. It has never been fertilized.

  • Jeri Lynn
    July 8th, 2009 at 9:45 am · Reply

    What other plants are best to plant with a Lantana bush?

  • Diane
    July 9th, 2009 at 4:55 pm · Reply

    Lantana winter dieback
    I live in Southaven, MS, I plant 12-15 plants each year in my flower beds. Each year I mulch the flower beds and cover the lantana roots with extra mulch and cut the plants back, about 6 inches from the root. Last year 1 plant came back and this year, 1 plant came back. Please tell me what I’m doing wrong. I love lantana, but I’m exhausted with re-planting and buying so many plants each year.

    Hi Diane
    Lantana may be marginally hardy in your zone. Some varieties are hardy in zone 7 but not all. You might ask some of your neighbors, if their lantana dies back in winter. Also. you might also consider the soil your lantana is growing in. Lantana needs well drained soil. If the soil doesn’t drain well and stays wet during the winter, it can rot the roots.

  • William Smith
    July 13th, 2009 at 1:25 pm · Reply

    I live on the Outer Banks of NC. Lantana line my driveway. I cut them back to the ground every spring. The come out and grow like weeds. They bloom aplenty. Then all of a sudden they stop blooming. The plants continue to grow but without many flowers. This has happened two years in a row. Previously they bloomed all summer.
    Any suggestions?

    Hi William
    Do they have berries on them ? Have you had a lot of rain? Have you fertilized the plant? Check the plant for berries and if there are some remove them.

  • William Smith
    July 14th, 2009 at 11:34 am · Reply

    No berries and no fertilizer. We did, however, get three inches of rain in a twelve hour period about a month ago
    I wish the bushes did have berries so I could harvest, dry and plant them.

    Hi William
    Lantana prefers a drier soil, a heavy rainfall could have stressed your lantana , enough to reduce blooming for a while. One thing you can do is lightly trim back the tip growth, this should encourage new growth and more blooms.

  • William
    July 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 am · Reply

    I was either told or read somewhere that you should NOT cut lantana back in the fall because water could get in the stems, freeze and kill the plant. True or not true?

    Hi William
    Yes, its true. The new growth will not harden off and may get winter damage. Better to cut them back in late winter/early spring.

  • Robin Bowman
    August 5th, 2009 at 5:46 am · Reply

    My lantana leaves have turned a white-grayish color and are not blooming. I am not sure what is wrong with them and they were recently planted. I am on the coast of south carolina and we have had lots of rain lately but, that is all the water they have been receiving. Any ideas?

  • audrey quartermain
    August 12th, 2009 at 2:19 pm · Reply

    I HAVE MY LANTANA IN A HANGING BASKET.BLOOMING FOR 3 MONTHS *SO FAR* I WANT TO SLIP IT AND GROW ANOTHER.CAN I USE A PEET PELET.AND ROOTING COMPOUND?THANKS aquartermain@msn.com

    Hi Audrey
    I haven’t used peat pellets for propagation, but think they should work. Just make sure you keep them moist. The rooting compound will help speed up root growth.

  • Trish Garcia
    September 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 am · Reply

    I live in New Mexico and this is my first time with lantanas. I have planted quite a few and am wondering about the berries, after I pull them off what do I do with them until I plant in the winter? Do I store them in an airtight container? Leave them out somewhere to dry? Looking for any advice. thanks

    Hi Trish
    When the seeds turn black they are ripe. Let your lantana berries dry and once dry (wrinkled) store in a dry container in a cool, dark place. Plant the seeds in late winter. Hybrid lantana will not come true (be the same) to original plant.

  • Kelli Hobson
    September 5th, 2009 at 8:51 am · Reply

    We live in North Central Texas and have several lantana plants in our flower beds, they do not have berries, just yellow blooms. They are big and beautiful. When should we prune them for winter?

    Hi Kelli
    You can wait till late winter to prune your lantana. This way, you will cut off any winter damage and stimulate new growth in spring.

  • marsha
    September 7th, 2009 at 9:26 am · Reply

    can lantana be started from the seeds after blooms are finished?

    Hi Marsha,
    Yes, lantana can be grown from seeds once they are mature. They may not produce the same color flowers as the original plant.

  • Janie
    September 22nd, 2009 at 1:49 pm · Reply

    Color change
    I have deep red and yellow lantanas.Each year the red gets less and less red. This year there is almost no red.They are almost all yellow.What has happened to my red color? I also had red canas next to the lantanas and they turned orange and then yellow.I also have yellow cannas near by.Does my soil need something to keep red flowers RED.

    Hi Janie
    Color changes can be due to several factors such as temperature, soil ph, light and genetics. To get certain colors, hybridizer combine one color gene with another. One gene may be dominant and as the plants get older, the dominant gene can take over and revert to its original color. Yellow is dominant on your lantana and canna.

  • Janice
    September 24th, 2009 at 9:22 am · Reply

    Too much rain
    I have 11 Lantana plants in a bed around my house and they have all died. Usually this time of year they are beautiful. I noticed yesterday that the blooms are gone and the entire plant is brown. I live in Alabama and we have had a month of constant rain and no sunshine.
    Could this be what killed the plants?

    Hi Janice
    Most likely your lantana drowned from too much water.

  • Carrie
    September 29th, 2009 at 9:41 am · Reply

    Winterover lantana indoors
    Hello! I live in lower Michigan and I have a 2-3 year old Lantana tree that needs to come in for the winter. Should I prune it now (September/October), and, if so, can I cut it back drastically to about 4-6 inches of stem for a bushier plant, or would this kill it?

    Hi Carrie
    Lantana may have a hard time wintering indoors but like other semi-tropical plants (Mandevilla) you can try to store in a dormant stage. Cut it back and keep it in a cellar/basement where it will drop its leaves and remain dormant. Leave it in a cool dark place around 40-50F and don’t let the soil dry out completely. Water it lightly once a month. Bring it out in early spring and place in a sunny window. You can also prune and shape the plant in early spring.

  • cathy harkey
    September 30th, 2009 at 8:08 pm · Reply

    Seed starter mix
    I’ve read all your questions and answers and they were very helpful.

    Could you please be exact on the soil/composition used when planting the seeds in late winter?
    Many thanks!

    HI Cathy
    A seed soil mix usually comprises of sterilized soil, peat and sand. It may also be a soilless mix composed mainly of peat moss. You can make your own soilless mix with a combination of 1/3 peat, perlite, and vermiculite. Seed soil mix is designed to have a light, fine texture, low nutrients and retain moisture. The commercially prepared seed starting mixes out on the market work well.

  • Joyce Miller
    October 21st, 2009 at 8:18 am · Reply

    I live in Virginia and the winters are bad so I have never tried to keep a Lantana over the winter. This is my first year to try. I brought it into my basement where I have grow lights but it has lost all of its leaves and appears dead.I have watered it to much I’m sure about twice a week. Do you think it will come back next year and should I cut it back and put it in a dark place. I don’t think my basement gets below 55,maybe 60.

    Hi Joyce
    See the above comment to Carrie regarding indoor storage. Temperatures of 55-60F should be fine. Keep it dormant in a cool, dark place, don’t bother with the growth lights. If the plant is large, cut it back to make it manageable. You can also trim any dead stems in early spring after new growth appears. If the roots were not damaged then it should return next spring.

  • Susan Mattix
    November 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 am · Reply

    I planted the yellow hybrid lantana in a border along our driveway (in full sun) this past summer. (We are on the Gulf in Central Florida) They did beautifully for weeks, grew like weeds, bloomed constantly. But now some are looking faded, getting crispy brown/black spots on them. You mentioned a fungus in an earlier posting but not how to fight it. I don’t want to lose my gorgeous border.
    When I planted the border, I put down lots of newspaper around the plants, then landscaping weed barrier over that, then mulch. I only watered them enough to get them started as they are happier in dry conditions. Will they respond to any kind of an anti fungal treatment? Please help me save my border….

    Hi Susan
    A fungicide will help control the disease from spreading but not elliminate it. Your local garden center should have some recommendations such as Daconil, Compass.
    I’m wondering if perhaps your lantana is being kept too wet with all the weed barriers that you have on the soil. The roots need to breathe and have good drainage in order to thrive. Have you had a rainy season lately? that could also contribute to the leaf spot problem. Avoid water on the leaves (sprinklers) and water early in the day so that it has time to dry before the evening. Be sure to remove any diseased leaves so that they don’t spread.

  • Mariah
    November 4th, 2009 at 10:12 am · Reply

    Pruning lantana
    I’m a bit confused after reading through all the questions and answers. I have a huge potted Lantana that I plan to
    winter over in the garage (E North Carolina). I’d like to cut it back before storing… would it be better to wait until early Spring? Appreciate your time.

    Hi Mariah
    The reason some wait till spring to cut the plant back is to remove any winter damaged stems-which may occur in colder regions. You can trim back your lantana in fall to 6″ make it more manageable in storage. If you don’t choose to do so, then prune it in spring to produce healthy, bushy growth. It’s up to you.

  • Bev
    November 8th, 2009 at 2:00 pm · Reply

    I am trying to propagate some lantana which no longer seems to be available. I cut off about 3 inches from the end of a cane, stripped the leaves below the ground, and left about 3 on the part above ground. Is this correct? Also, have put them in small pots with drain holes. Is this OK?
    Your directions say that when new growth appears it should be fertilized. With what??
    (I’m being optimistic in even asking)

    Hi Bev
    Sounds like you are off to a good start. Make sure that your cutting is in a warm, humid spot with bright light. You can place the cutting in a plastic bag to maintain a humid environment. When new growth starts give it a dose of 1/2 strength houseplant or a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) and place in bright light. Because of shorter daylength (less sun), new growth will be slower in the fall/winter than in spring. If you don’t succeed try again in spring.
    Dipping the cutting in rooting hormone before planting can also stimulate faster root growth

  • Susan Mattix
    November 8th, 2009 at 6:44 pm · Reply

    Thanks for the advise on the anti fungal treatments. The soil where the lantanas are planted, is sand. It drains really well. I did go a little overboard with the newspaper and then landscape weed barrier just because I hate weeds so much. We had put in new sod right around the same time we put in the border at the edge of the lawn and of course, we watered the lawn with sprinklers to get it going…that is probably what got the fungus started. We don’t water much normally. It’s been a couple months since I have run the sprinklers. Just hit the sod with some hand watering now and then if it’s really dry and hot. I could rip out the newspaper if need be. I could do it without disturbing the plants.
    Thanks again for the help. I will report back on it later.

    Hi Susan
    If the soil is well drained and not soggy, then leave the newspaper, it will eventually break down into the soil. Most likely, sprinklers added to the leaf spot problem. On hot days, water at the soil level. The important thing is not to have the leaves wet overnight when fungi grow best.

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