I’ve Ignored This Flower For 20 Years—And It Still Blooms Like Clockwork

The first spring after we bought our house, every day was a new surprise as flowers planted by the previous owners popped up in the yard like fresh miracles every morning. We had bought the home in late November, just as the landscape was winding down in the last hurrah of fall foliage, so we had no idea what treasures would await us once the weather warmed.

One of my favorite plants we inherited from the previous owners was a large grouping of lantana bushes on the low retaining wall by our patio . The biggest delight to me has been the amount of beauty we've enjoyed for eight months of the year with virtually no effort. Not once in 20 years have we watered or fertilized them. Summers that pummeled the plants with monsoon-like rains? The lantanas took it on the chin and kept on fighting. Dry seasons when nary a drop of precipitation fell on our yard for weeks on end? These well-established shrubs may have lost a few leaves, but otherwise, they didn't seem to sweat it. Then, when we finally did get some rain, they graciously showed their gratitude by putting out a fresh flush of blooms. 

And those blooms, which are clustered at the ends of the stems like adorable mini bouquets, come in so many pretty colors from yellow to pink to purple and keep coming from spring until frost. I'm not the only one who loves the flowers—they also draw butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds . 

Buy The Best

The kind of lantana you should purchase at the nursery depends on your location. Some types have become invasive in tropical and subtropical regions (like Florida, Texas, and other Coastal South states), so if you're in an area where this may be an issue, be sure to buy fruitless hybrids like 'Star Landing,' 'Pinkie,' 'Gold Mound,' 'Lemon Swirl,' and 'Ham and Eggs' to keep them from running amok. 'Spreading Sunset' is true to its name, with orange, red, and gold flowers all mixed together. 

Plant Them Right

If you need a shrub that thrives on benign neglect, this is the ticket. The key to success with lantana is putting it in a spot where it will be happy from the get-go with minimal maintenance. Wait until the danger of frost has passed to plant it in your garden. It prefers full sun, well-drained soil , and moderate water, but it isn't too picky beyond that and can handle the worst of our Southern heat once it's well established. 

Related: 14 Full-Sun Perennials Gardening Pros Always Recommend

Enjoy The Show

Gardeners across the Lower, Coastal, and Tropical South can anticipate a repeat performance year after year from this tough perennial, but in the majority of the Upper and Middle South, most selections are grown as annuals and must be replanted each spring. In colder areas, go with the orange-and-pink 'Miss Huff,' which is hardy down to -3 Fahrenheit.  

Hack It Back

If you live in an area where lantana is a perennial, cut off the stems 6 to 12 inches from the ground in late winter (early March where I live), after the plant has died back and the foliage has withered. This is a perfect job for a day when you need an easy gardening win—let's say after your beloved basketball team has blown their chance at getting to the championship game. Grab some pruners or loppers, cut off all the dead stems, and throw them away. Now, wasn't that satisfying? Cutting back the stems will help the plant have lush growth and more blooms once warm weather returns.

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