Lantana

On May 25, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

I've enjoyed this species as a summer bedding/container plant here in Massachusetts.

The unripe fruit is toxic to humans. The foliage is toxic to many animals if ingested.

This species has naturalized in 14 states and is considered damagingly invasive to natural areas in Florida and Hawaii.

The World Conservation Union IUCN has included this species on their list of 100 of the world's worst invasive species, an honor it shares with only 31 land plants.
http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/100Engl...

On Nov 29, 2013, MurrayTX from El Paso, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

This Lantana grows incredibly well in our sandy, mildly alkaline soil and desert heat with an occasional watering. Once established, it will die to the ground and regrow... possibly to be a huge fence hedge, despite our Zone 8a (and some years worse) winters. I have one that came as a volunteer via bird that somehow grew while having germinated from 5 inches beneath soil that I discovered when attempting to plant something else there. It has grown to 3 feet tall and will no doubt grow much taller and wider next year. It receives only part sun, as it is growing very near the house wall... but it does not seem to mind. Warning: it does like to drop seeds. You will get a colony if not well monitored.

On Sep 28, 2013, debylutz from San Diego, CA (Zone 10a) wrote:

This plant has beautiful colorful flowers that are very tropical-looking and attract hummingbirds. Yet, its leaves have the most disagreeable scent, at least to me. Some birds like to eat the fruits, causing it to spread like a weed.

On Nov 28, 2012, 4plantsonly from (Zone 9b) wrote:

in similar in appearance to the Florida endemic native Lantana species (Lantana depressa Small), the native has tapered or crenate leaf bases ..... the exotic species has a squared off or truncate leaf base. go with the native Lantana depressa

On Apr 3, 2012, TRUNK from North Andrews Gardens, FL wrote:

The Native Florida Lantana is Lantana depressa.

Lantana Camara in from the west indies and is non-native and starving florida native butterflies and destroying native habitats...in florida

Lowes / Home Depot and other garden centers who are selling this plant in florida are selling them because the consumer is buying them. When choosing a plant for your florida landscape, please research the plant carefully.

The non-natives are seeding and birds who eat them are droping them everywhere...thus destroying what habitats we have left. after the pythons have eaten all the rabbits and then the green dragon lizards that have eaten all the vegetation. ~ something to consider...
for details : ... read moretanacorrection.pdf" target="_dgnew"rel="nofollow">http://www.fnps.org/palmetto/v23n1lantanacorrection.pdf

On Nov 30, 2011, klaxoner from Philadelphia, PA wrote:

This plant overwinters very well in a cold dark basement! I leave mine out until near the first freeze (usually December 1st in downtown micro-climate of Philadelphia). I then cut it back to about a third of its size and put in a cool (50ºF) basement. It gets watered lightly about once a month. I pull it out in around March 1st and put it in some light in a warm room. By April 1st it's ready to go back outside (unless it's unseasonably cool). I've had the same plant for years and it seems to like the cycle. It does well in a warm well-lit window over the winter as well. Likes to be heavily pruned several times a year and grows back very quickly.

On Jul 17, 2011, Fordham90 from Huber Ridge, OH wrote:

I'm writing from Central Ohio, and I recently purchased 2 small multi-color lantana plants. Before reading about the toxicity of this plant, I planted one of them in a terra cotta pot with a lovely rosemary specimen--intended for consumption. It sounds like I should separate them if I intend to use the rosemary in food. Thank you for the valuable information.

On Apr 28, 2011, td1026 from Groveland, FL wrote:

I see so many of these here in southern Lake County that you would think they are native! They were and probably still are a very popular garden plant throughout all of Florida. They have since escaped cultivation and can be seen everywhere, so I doubt people are still planting these in their yards as often they were. However, they are beautiful and I love the fruity/peppery smell of the foliage. Flowers are small and dainty and come in all kinds of cool colors like lemon yellow, hot pink, deep orange, & lilac. Its invasive status is remarkable, but at least it's a pretty plant.

On Apr 12, 2011, Gardeningman from Kingman, KS (Zone 6b) wrote:

I love this plant. Its blooms are abundant and very attractive. It has a pleasant fragrance, and it is not susceptible to disease or insect infestation. It is not invasive here in South Central Kansas (zone 6b), but it does grow very well. It grows as a perrenial here in kingman, KS if planted on the south facing side of a structure that receives direct sun for most of the day and protection from the North wind. If planted elsewhere it will grow as an annual.
The only draw back to this plant, if you can call it a draw back, is that it has to be dead headed in order to keep blooming profusely. Also the seeds/berries are very heavy and, if not dead headed, tend to weigh all the branches to the ground giving the plant a flattened out look. I may replace all of my Ham 'n Eggs lan... read moretanas with Miss Huff lantanas to avoid the dead heading.

On Jun 3, 2010, jleigh from Ballston Lake, NY (Zone 5a) wrote:

On a recent trip to Hawaii, I saw this plant growing all over along the side of the road. It was very beautiful with its rainbow flowers and all the butterflies who love the nectar. However it appeared to be quite invasive and smelled kind of foul...

On Nov 18, 2009, garden140 from Hightstown, NJ (Zone 6b) wrote:

I grew up in Louisiana and always loved this plant. It is a perennial there. I don't know of anyone who considers it invasive.

Here in central New Jersey it is an annual. I have never heard that it was poisonous and never had a reaction to it in any way. One of my dogs like to eat the black berries. He shows no ill effect. I am going to try overwintering one this year by covering it with mulch.

On Aug 2, 2009, NBowling from Dora, AL wrote:

I live in central Alabama. We have red clay soil for the most part. Our latana is planted in partial shade, the mulch is mostly pine straw, with some cannon lillies and confederate rose. If anything, the rose has grown better than the latana. Our variety is the "ham and eggs".

Perhaps the reason why our latana hasn't proliferated to the extreme could be a combination of the soil (clay) and the partial shade environment. The most maintanance we've had to do is shape it up a bit after dead heading once every couple months during spring till mid-fall.

My favorite part of this plant is the berries. With the "ham and eggs" variety we have, the berries look like polished stones. Starting out as a beautiful green jade color, then turning into shiney black, almost li... read moreke obsidian. I wonder if you could preserve the stalks with the berries for flower arrangements? I bet it would make a wonderful addition to any fall center piece.

On Jun 28, 2009, jerry31557 from Patterson, GA wrote:

Living in SE Georgia I remember Lantana was called a rattle snake plant because the rattle snakes loved eating the berries on the plants. Therefore, we were told as kids to stay away from it as it grew everywhere in the woods. Now you can find it in any gardening store for every price in the book. Who says, "one man's weed is another man's flower"!

On May 11, 2009, Vivash1 from Mathews, VA wrote:

I planted a lantana several years ago in full sun and it has grown into a beautiful, very large shrub (5 feet X 5 feet?) that blooms all summer. To protect it from freezing, I cut it back almost to ground level in the late fall and cover with several inches of mulch. In spring, it's almost the last thing to show signs of life. Surrounded by lawn, it's not invasive but it holds its own pretty well against nearby daylilies. We have sandy soil and moderate rainfall here in Tidewater Virginia.

On Aug 26, 2008, kljflower from Tipp City, OH (Zone 5b) wrote:

When I was a child, my family visited Disneyland and we were so charmed by the topiaries everywhere, particularly some trained from lantana plants. So next Mother's Day, the favor at the Mother Child Banquet at the church was a lantana plant. My folks worked with it and trained it into a small tree about three feet tall. Don't remember how long it lasted, but it seemed really cool and unusual. Must try this again sometime.

My next experience was seeing it grow all over the place near the highways when I had a chance to visit Australia in my early 20's. Doesn't surprise me to read comments on here from Australians to be wary of it, as it did seem to grow rampantly.

We also had a lantana bush in Sarasota, Florida that was always very difficult to keep trimm... read moreed since it was a vacation home and sometimes long periods between visits. We were finally relieved of our duty to it when the neighbors installed a fence and removed it. So probably not a very advisable plant for Florida either.

But, for my positive rating - you just can't beat this plant for our hot Ohio summers. As long as you keep it watered and dead-headed, it will bloom and attract hummers and butterflies all summer. Maybe a few spells of not a lot of flowers, but whether it is in a hanging basket, grown in a pot, or planted in the ground as an annual - it is a real treasure for Ohio gardeners. We've had success wintering over plants in the greenhouse, but I have not been successful overwintering it in the home. However, I brought the whole hanging basket in. Thinking of making some cuttings in late summer that would just be small plants for overwintering and then they'd have a head start on next year.

Very important to remove spent blooms to keep continual blooming.

On Mar 27, 2008, laura10801 from Fairfield County, CT (Zone 6b) wrote:

Here in Zone 6B it is an annual, and it is gorgeous. I had a large potted specimen on my front walk last summer, and it drew so many remarks from people that I will definitely use it as a specimen agan this summer.

The plant must be deadheaded regularly in order to keep blooming and this MUST be done with gloves as touching the plant causes allergic reactions in everyone I've talked to about it.

On Jan 28, 2008, jdiaz from Chowchilla, CA wrote:

Grown all over in z9b Central Cal. This is a favorite of both public and private landscapes, showing up in street medians, freeway landsapes (where it trails and dangles over everything). It is a butterfly magnet.

On Nov 28, 2007, cactuspatch from Alamogordo, NM (Zone 7b) wrote:

I love this plant as it reminds me of my Grandma. At a time when no water was ever "wasted" on flowers she always had one here in New Mexico. My cousins and I would pick the bouquets and play "wedding" with them! LOL! They are perennials here and I love that the rabbits leave them alone. Otherwise I would have nothing but cactus, sage and BP outside my stucco walls. DH seems to have allergic reactions to them and I don't like the scent. I wear a mask and cut them back myself. Love that they need little more than cutting back once yearly and give me constant blooms from early spring until November.

On Sep 14, 2007, SimbiDlo from Snyder, TX wrote:

Well, I had no idea that it was highly toxic! I have caught my dog chewing on the leaves for the past month now, but she hasn't shown any signs of poisoning, so I am assuming it is only actual consumption of the plant that causes poisoning. However, I do enjoy the flowers and the smell is nice ( in small amounts that is ) I will deffinately keep an eye on the animal activities around my lantana from now on!

On Aug 10, 2007, Opoetree from Oak View, CA wrote:

WOW...this plant is everywhere and has its share of comments! We have had it for years and it is a dependable plant -- tolerant of frost and drought conditions...all the while producing vibrant blooms. I like the scent of the leaves and am fond of the varieties of coloring to be found.

On Jun 26, 2007, Roy_Green from Adelaide Hills,
Australia (Zone 9a) wrote:

This plant is one of the most notorious weeds in temperate and subtropical eastern Australia. If you google 'lantana' and 'Australia' you will come across countless websites about the invasive nature of this plant. Its problem is that it self-seeds like crazy.

Places where it is less invasive: (a) anywhere with dry summers; (b) anywhere with frosts. But even then take great caution and check your local regulations.

On Jun 16, 2007, YeeFam from Leander, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

Houston, TX

I have it in a container - so it grows pretty much under control.

The lantanas seems to bloom in cycles - they have been blooming since April, but right now, mine seems to be resting.

On Apr 15, 2007, pinkypetunia from Poplarville, MS (Zone 8b) wrote:

Lantana was the first plant I fell in love with as a child. I was walking in the field by our house and I saw a wild Lantana. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! I went back home, got a butter knife,and sawed through a huge root and brought it home and planted it for my mom. It lived and I was hooked for life. I have Lantana all over my yard and it is gorgeous! I have yellow, lavendar, and several shades of the old Ham&Eggs variety,[like the one I got out of the field]. I've grown them for many years and have never seen them as a pestilence,or invasive. We live in south MS in a climate that is darn near tropical and Lantana has never reseeded in my yard. A lot of my friends grow this plant as well and love it. The smell is devine, I love it. I can't say enough good a... read morebout Lantana, one of the very best things is the butterflies flock to it, last summer at my mom's we looked out her kitchen window and her yellow and pink Lantana had no less than 30-40 black and yellow swallowtail butterflies all over it. I knew right then, I will always have lovely Lantana in my garden.

On Mar 17, 2007, headeranderson from San Antonio, TX wrote:

This plant grows wild on our ranch in Boerne,Texas (NW of San Antonio). The deer dont eat it and we have run over the bushes with our truck and trailer hundreds of times. I can't believe that the ones on the dirt roads still return year after year. We have had a pretty bad drought for almost two years now (since Hurricane Katrina and Rita) and they are still fighting stong.

On Jan 20, 2007, itasmom from Yuma, AZ wrote:

This plant is invasive in irrigated areas of southwest Arizona. There was some already in the backyard when we bought our house. It is now over 6 feet tall and very hard to contain. We spend half our summer hacking it back. The bees seem to really like it tho.

On Jan 15, 2007, BubblesFontana from Clinton, AR (Zone 7a) wrote:

Lantana that you buy in garden centers that are in hanging baskets are the PERFECT plant for very hot porches and decks that have full sun. They bloom non-stop and attract butterflies. They come in many beautiful colors, and look fresh even in the long days of summer, when nothing else is
blooming in my area. Keep out of reach of children and pets, and enjoy their blooms and the butterflies all summer long.

On Dec 1, 2006, blossombloom from Griffin, GA wrote:

Hello everyone. I thought that I would add my two little cents in here. Lantana is one of my favorite plants. It is a butterfly magnet and I love to watch them. In my experience this is a must have flower to have in your garden.

On Sep 26, 2006, prometeo21 from Mayaguez, PR (Zone 11) wrote:

This plant is recognized as a medicinal plant in Puerto Rico. I had not heard of poisonous accidents with this plant. I also found a good description of the medicinal properties of this plant in the Philippines. Many of this uses there are the same as in Puerto Rico.

Remember that what could kill and animal not necessarily affect humans. For example chocolate could easily kill a dog in a few hours but is harmless to humans that are not allergic to it. (and I had seen very "wise" people sharing chocolate bars with his fellow canines friends)

On Sep 17, 2006, carrielamont from Milton, MA (Zone 6a) wrote:

I picked my varieties for the wonderful color combos. Mine were waiting to be planted in a windowbox but I ran out of space so I just stuck them straight in the ground. Unfortunately, my DH hasn't been able to work in that bed since then! Now I know why he comes back from weeding with an itchy, uncomfortable rash! I sure wish they were hardy in my zone, but next time I'll stick with the container plan.

On Sep 1, 2006, Miss_Huff from Flemington, NC (Zone 7a) wrote:

I grow lantana Miss Huff which is marginally hardy in Zone 7. Since it is very vigorous, it will winter over here, but it may not show any new growth
until late April or May. Don't get impatient (as a friend did) and dig it up.
It will be fine. And it will make up for lost time, growing very fast in Spring and Summer. That said, it's a good idea to plant it in a sheltered spot and
mulch it. Pluses: Very easy to grow, very vigorous, very pretty flowers and foliage, one of the very best butterfly plants, insect and disease proof, an instant shrub. A 6 inch wide tiger swallowtail feeding on the delicately-colored flowers is a sight to see! Ours flourished with only 6 solid hours of sun. LOVE IT. One other plus: Lantana is very popular here.
I purchased mine at a ... read morediscount store for $1.00 -- a real find!

On Aug 7, 2006, nmk123 from Brooklyn, NY wrote:

After 30 years, even a fleeting whiff of Lantana leaves unlocks some of my happiest childhood memories. I grew up in the Hollywood Hiils, where Lantana grows wild. I spent countless happy afternoons hiking there, the hot, dry, and clear California air perfumed with Lantana's intoxicating herby aroma. I used to break the leaves and devour their spicy scent. It's one smell that I would not want to live without.

On May 15, 2006, RainFallFlowers from Hernando, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

I love this flowering bush, It grows naturally all over my yard, Beautiful Flowers all Spring and Summer and Bright Colors of Orange and Pink. It can be a little tough to prune in the spring due to the little thorns and the smell is a bit strong from the leaves but it is worth it when you see those flowers.
I give this an A+ for a natural Florida plant.

On May 1, 2006, reggiebaby from Menomonee Falls, WI wrote:

I planted this in my back yard not really knowing how it would grow. It thrived all summer and bloomed beatifully. I cut it back in fall and I do not see any new growth coming back as yet. I've been searching to find this plant as I would like to plant more. They are unique and extremely beatiful. I intend to purchase more colors this year.

On Mar 25, 2006, MitchF from Lindsay, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

I love this native, looks great in my garden and takes our Texas heat like nothing else will...

On Dec 23, 2005, Anitabryk2 from Long Island, NY (Zone 6b) wrote:

I love these plants - they are so forgiving of dry, hot summer weather and just bloom their hearts out!! I am probably glad they are not winter hardy, because I am sure, based on the growth in my zone, that they could pose a problem if unchecked.

On Jul 5, 2005, berrygirl76 from Sanford, FL (Zone 9a) wrote:

I find it funny that one mentioned either loving or hating this plant- when I was little it grew in my yard as a weed and I couldn't stand it. My dad called it "stink-flower". But since my butterfly gardening addiction has gotten the best of me : ) my views have changed. Now I love it and I have four kinds of lantana in my garden- including this one. It blooms well, grows really fast and I even like the smell. Go figure!

On May 1, 2005, larcatz from Ocoee, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

I must agree, Lantana camara is a pretty invasive weed here in Central Florida.

On Sep 15, 2004, tjsangel003 from Warren, OH wrote:

Hummingbirds are very attracted to this plant. I love its beautiful red, orange and yellow flowers, and it does best in hot, dry weather. Also, I love the scent. It smells like lemons to me. Nice in hanging baskets and planters on the patio.

On Aug 18, 2004, dowjim from South Holland, IL wrote:

I have two Lantanas I have groomed into trees. One must be 10 years old the other 8 or 9. They are potted due to my Chicago climate and must come in in the winter. I'll try to get a digital photo to post but meantime try it, they make a real attention getter when they go into bloom. They are now between 6 and 8 feet tall but I groom back in the fall each year. Pot size becomes a problem.

On Jul 31, 2004, poesmommy from Eatontown, NJ wrote:

I live in Nj. First time planting Lantana. Doing very well through July so far. Happy to find out it is perennial.

On Jun 26, 2004, V_Vale from Las Vegas, NV wrote:

I live in Las Vegas, NV

I wanted to inform you that we have lost our baby 2-year old border collie "Ellee" to this plant common to most backyards called "Lantana" also known as Lantana Camara.

On June 22, 2004, my son caught Ellee grazing on the plant and pulled her away. The next day she had flu-like symptoms: nausea (her tummy hurt as she wanted me to continually rub it), diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargic, dehydrated and heavy panting. When we took her to the vet, she had already began hemorrhaging internally and had renal failure. She went downhill in a matter of hours. We put her to rest June 24, 2004.

We had no idea that this plant was poisonous or we would have never planted it. We were never informed at the nursery when we made our p... read moreurchase of the toxic plant that killed our pet.

Please inform others as we are about this plant to prevent further harm.

On May 27, 2004, onalee from Brooksville, FL (Zone 9a) wrote:

In Florida and other Southern States this is a noxious weed and EXTREMELY POISONOUS TO LIVESTOCK AND HUMANS. It spreads by the birds eating the berries and everywhere they leave droppings more of these come up. They are IMPOSSIBLE TO KILL - I have tried everything from sprays to digging them up. I have lost livestock to this plant and I attack it aggressively everytime I see just one small plant starting in my pasture. PLEASE GROW THESE WITH CAUTION.

Here is more info on the poisionous aspect of these plants:

From the West VA State University web site:

"TOXICITY

This ornamental shrub contains lantanin, a triterpenoid, and other compounds irritating to the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. All parts of the plant are quite to... read morexic and poisoning may occur year-round, but is most common in summer and fall. Many poisoning cases occur when clippings are thrown into the pasture.

Sheep, cattle, horses, and humans are sensitive to the effects of the plant. Children have been poisoned by eating the berries.

SYMPTOMS

Cattle are most often affected. There are two forms of toxicity: acute and chronic. The acute form usually occurs within 24 hours after eating the plants with the animal exhibiting gastroenteritis with bloody, watery feces. Severe weakness and paralysis of the limbs are followed by death in three to four days. The chronic form is characterized by jaundiced mucous membranes, photosensitization, ulcerations of the mucous membranes of the nose and oral cavity. The skin may peel, leaving raw areas that are vulnerable to blowfly strike and bacterial infection. Severe keratitis may result in temporary or permanent blindness. "

FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GA WEB SITE:

" Description: Lantana is a common ornamental plant. The plant has spreading stems and opposite leaves. The flowers form clusters that are flat-topped and range in color from red-orange to yellow. Lantana poses several problems to the farmer in that ingestion of the plant causes liver damage in animals, the plant inhibits the growth of other plants surrounding it (this includes grasses or other animal fodder), and this plant infests potential pastures causing a decrease in fodder for the animals.
Toxic Part: The entire plant is toxic.
Toxin: The toxic compounds are currently disputed but are believed to be lantadenes, a group of triterpenes.
Symptoms: This plant has demonstrated toxicity when ingested by cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats. Poisoning occurs after ingestion of a significant amount of foliage (3mg foliage/kg body weight) at one time. The toxicity is not cumulative and not all species of Lantana are toxic. Symptoms of toxicity in animals include photosensitive dermatitis followed by necrosis of large areas of the skin, jaundice and yellowing of the mucous membranes, and loss of appetite with a decrease in ruminal motility. This decrease in ruminal motility may be a reaction to damage to the liver by the toxic constituents of the plant. L. camara poses several problems to the rancher in that ingestion of the plant causes hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity), the plant inhibits growth of nearby grasses and other potential fodder, and this plant infests potential pastures causing a decrease in fodder for the animals. In severe cases death may occur within two days or one to three weeks post-poisoning.
Treatment: Activated charcoal is a successful treatment for Lantana toxicity in animals. "

On Apr 27, 2004, butterflygal from Grady, AL (Zone 8a) wrote:

I love this plant! It's up against the barn and gets as tall as 7', it was here when we purchased. Oh, when covered with butterflies it is absolutely breathtaking :)

On Nov 19, 2003, mrsmitty from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 9a) wrote:

Both the orange and the purple variety grow wild in North East Florida. I mow hundreds of them every year as they propigate from seed easily. I plant them along my fence in alternating intervals...purple, orange, purple, orange, etc. My daughter loves the way the blooms change from purple with yellow or red with orange. The berrys look like blackberries so warn small children NOT to eat them.

On Nov 11, 2003, birovsek from Bonneau, SC (Zone 8a) wrote:

Lantana grows very well here in Bonneau, South Carolina (U.S.) - likes full sun!

On Sep 5, 2003, suncatcheracres from Old Town, FL wrote:

I would say this plant is a naturalized wildflower rather than an invasive weed due to its colorful flowers that attract butterflies. Here in Northcentral Florida, zone 8b, it is not all over the place--you just see it occasionally along the roadside--more often out by a mailbox and along private driveways where it has probably been deliberately planted. And when I was growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast it was naturalized along the medians in almost pure sand by the seawall--often it was the only plant growing there!

In St. Petersburg, Florida, zone 9b, I grew the solid lavender type, probably L. montevidensis, but it didn't do as well as the L. camara, the multicolored common lantana of my childhood. In fact it died out after only a few years--I never... read more understood why, as L. montevidensis is supposedly hardier than L. camara.

The Southern Living Garden Book lists 17 named varieties or hybrids of L. camara, so there should be a lantana color to please anyone. I'm planning on growing several colors out by my gates on a dirt road, as that is my sunniest spot here in zone 8b.

November 12, 2003: Found some huge plants--about four feet tall and in full bloom--growing in a long patch behind a commercial building yesterday. They are lovely pastel colors--creamy yellow, lavender and a pale pink--so I took some cuttings, removed the flowers and deleafed all but the top few small leaves, and stuck the cuttings into a pot filled with only my sandy soil. I watered the pot heavily, and stuck the pot into my very damp, improvised greenhouse where I am overwintering some tender plants in pots.

This is the first time I have tried cuttings from this plant--I collected some of the bright green seed too, but it may not be ripe enough. I may be too late in the season, but I couldn't resist the pretty colors and vigorous growth. The flower colors really stood out against the dark green, crinkled leaves. And I didn't find the smell that objectionable--spicy is a good word for it.

On Aug 25, 2003, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

San Antonio, TX
Love the plant and like its odor. PLEASE NOTE: ALL PARTS of this plant are POISONOUS if eaten and can be FATAL. This plant causes dermatitis in some individuals (For example:Me!). Be sure to wash your hands (arms and/or other body parts if applicable) after handling. It is an introduced (naturalized) plant in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah) and the Virgin Islands. It is a native in Puerto Rico.

On Jul 2, 2003, SallyM from Gray, LA wrote:

In the 1980s, we planted some yellow, lavender, and white Lantana that we purchased from a nursery. The first to die was the white, the next was the purple, and finally the yellows died. Very frustrated, I decided to look for the old wild kind, like my Grandmother use to grow.

One day in the 1990's, my son and I were downtown where a parking lot used land from an old homestead. We noticed that on the bayou side, along with weeds and scrub trees, there was an old wild Lantana in bloom. My son was able to reach a couple of small pieces with roots.

We now each have an old fashion Lantana growing in our yards, just like my Grandma and other country folks use to have. The old wild variety have flowers with multiple colors. The same colors that can be found ... read morewhen staring into a plate of ham and eggs. That is the only name I heard the old country people call this bush, when I was a little girl ... "Ham & Eggs"!

The flowers have always fascinated me, with shades of pinks, lavenders, yellows, oranges, all on one flower. To me, it smells herbal, like something you might use to flavor a stew. I am so happy with my wild antique Lantana bush. I have it planted in the mailbox garden.

In the Fall when the branches turn brown, we cut it down to the ground. In the Spring it grows back about four feet tall and just as wide. It blooms till late Summer. The birds and butterflies both love it. My husband has to trim it slightly during it's growing season, just to keep it from getting too leggy and wild-looking.

Look around the grounds of old homesteads and you may be able to find an old wild Lantana. Nothing seems to bother them down here in South Louisiana (U.S.)

On Oct 26, 2002, Ramona1 from New Bern, NC (Zone 8a) wrote:

I love lantana. It is very hardy and makes an elegant showing in beds across my front yard. The past three summers they have been beautiful until frost. This year, however, many of the bushes stopped blooming in September and leaves turned whitish and look diseased. I am searching for information on how to prevent that. My red lantana is still fine; it is the yellow spreading variety that I am concerned about.

On Sep 14, 2002, debsbloom from Fort Gibson, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

This is a heat-resistant, drought resistant, bug resistant plant that blooms all summer in our yard. I cut it completely back to the ground in the fall after frost. It comes back strong and beautiful. I have no trouble moving parts of it. I also dig up new plants that have seeded in the grass, and all have survived.

On Jul 30, 2002, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

This plant is native to South America. It is a wonderful bloomer and brightens up sunny areas. Interestingly, though, it is considered a weed in parts of Australia.

On Jun 23, 2002, CINDY4 wrote:

I have planted Lantana for the past couple of years and have found out that the yellow variety seems to do better in my yard. I have never heard of anyone growing the plant from seed, but my Grandmother has multiplied hers by cuttings. I had a neighbor who left hers overwinter and it came back but did not bloom as well as the year before. We are in Zone 8.