Lantana
Lantana hybrid
A vibrant year-round bloomer in yellow, orange, and gold that attracts butterflies but is a skin irritant.
Grown as a root-hardy perennial in USDA zones 9-11; it blooms year-round where frost-free but dies to the ground in the low 20s°F and returns each spring, thriving in extreme low-desert heat.
AMWUA Notes
Skin irritant — wear gloves when handling.
Care Guide
Water every 7-10 days in summer for continuous bloom, stretching to every 2-3 weeks in cooler months; it is heat-loving and tolerates some drought once established.
Cut back hard to a few inches in late winter after frost to remove cold-damaged wood and renew a compact, floriferous mound; shear lightly through the season to deadhead.
Feed lightly with a balanced fertilizer in spring; excess nitrogen produces foliage at the expense of flowers.
Watch for whitefly, lace bug, and spider mites in heat; foliage and unripe berries are toxic if eaten, so keep away from pets and children.
Blooms nearly year-round in frost-free spots but freezes to the ground in the low 20s°F, reliably resprouting from the roots in spring.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Adaptable to most well-drained soils including poor, rocky, and alkaline desert ground; tolerates reflected heat.
Needs well-drained soil.
Low feeder.
Softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings; hybrids are cutting-grown to stay true to color.
3 ft on center for a solid color mass
Non-invasive roots; note that foliage and unripe berries are toxic, so site away from areas used by pets and small children.
Placement Tips
- •Space 3 ft apart for a solid butterfly-magnet color mass in full sun.
- •Use in hot reflected-heat beds and parking islands where many plants struggle.
- •Keep berries and foliage away from areas used by pets and small children.
- •Site in full sun; shade cuts bloom and encourages leggy growth.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Wildlife Value
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
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Use this care guide to maintain your Lantana. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Lantana — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Lantana need in Phoenix?
Lantana is a moderate-water groundcover once established. Water every 7-10 days in summer for continuous bloom, stretching to every 2-3 weeks in cooler months; it is heat-loving and tolerates some drought once established. Skin irritant — wear gloves when handling.
How big does Lantana get?
Expect roughly 2 ft tall and 3 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 3 ft on center for a solid color mass of spacing when planting. Non-invasive roots; note that foliage and unripe berries are toxic, so site away from areas used by pets and small children.
Can you plant Lantana near a pool?
Yes. Lantana is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated low.
Can Lantana handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Lantana is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Grown as a root-hardy perennial in USDA zones 9-11; it blooms year-round where frost-free but dies to the ground in the low 20s°F and returns each spring, thriving in extreme low-desert heat. Blooms nearly year-round in frost-free spots but freezes to the ground in the low 20s°F, reliably resprouting from the roots in spring.
Does Lantana have thorns?
No. Lantana is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.
Is Lantana safe around pets?
Lantana is not listed as pet-friendly, so keep it out of areas where pets graze or chew, and check with your vet if you are unsure.
When does Lantana bloom in Arizona?
Lantana blooms in year-round, with yellow/orange/gold flowers. The bloom draws butterflies, bees.
How much maintenance does Lantana need?
Lantana is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Cut back hard to a few inches in late winter after frost to remove cold-damaged wood and renew a compact, floriferous mound; shear lightly through the season to deadhead.
What kind of soil does Lantana need?
Adaptable to most well-drained soils including poor, rocky, and alkaline desert ground; tolerates reflected heat. Nutrient needs are low. Feed lightly with a balanced fertilizer in spring; excess nitrogen produces foliage at the expense of flowers.
Is Lantana native to Arizona?
No. Lantana is not an Arizona native; it originates from the Horticultural hybrid, but it is grown successfully in low-desert landscapes here.