Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Lantana camara or Common lantana

The genus Lantana, family Verbenaceae, includes 150 species of perennial plants and shrubs native to South America. Some species are: Lantana camara, Lantana montevidensis, Lantana involuta, Lantana pastazensis, Lantana exarata.

Common names: Common lantana, West Indian lantana, Wild-sage, Red-sage, White-sage, Tickberry, Big-sage.

They are deciduous shrubs that reach 2 meters (6.56 feet) in height. The leaves are dark green, rough, ovate-sharp and opposite arrangement. The flowers are small and are gathered in dense flower heads. They can be yellow, orange, red, pink, or white. They bloom from late spring to early fall. The fruits are shiny black.

They are used to form bushy groups, on terraces, on borders and in pots and planters. They are ideal for gardens with a Mediterranean and subtropical climate.

Lantana camara grows in full sun and semi-shade exposures. It does not resist frost.

They grow in any type of soil but prefer it to contain organic matter. If they are grown in a pot, change the substrate every 2-3 years and lightly prune the roots.

Fertilize in late winter with compost or manure.

Prune the tips of the stems 2-3 times a year to maintain a compact appearance.

They are resistant plants to the usual pests and diseases.

They are propagated from seeds sown at a temperature of 16-18 ºC (61-64 ºF) and by means of woody cuttings in late summer or after flowering.

Images of the shrub Lantana camara or Common lantana