Common Lantana
Lantana camara
Also listed as Camara vulgaris
Also known as West Indian Lantana, Cherry Pie, Tickberry
Climate Match for your location
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A vigorous, heat-loving shrub producing dense clusters of small flowers that shift color as they age, from yellow or orange to red or pink. Extremely tolerant of poor conditions and drought once established.
Why grow it
Lantana camara offers reliable, continuous bloom over a long season with minimal inputs once established, making it useful in low-maintenance landscape schemes where other flowering shrubs might require regular watering or fertilization. Its ability to thrive in poor, sandy, or degraded soils and tolerate heat and drought sets it apart from many ornamental alternatives, particularly in regions with hot summers and irregular moisture. The flowers attract pollinators throughout the growing season, adding value in permaculture settings focused on supporting beneficial insects.
Watch out for
Lantana can spread aggressively through self-seeding in warm climates, so deadheading or monitoring seedlings may be necessary to prevent unwanted spread into adjacent plantings. It benefits from occasional pruning to maintain shape and encourage bushier growth, rather than becoming leggy. In cooler zones, expect die-back in winter, though plants typically regenerate from the base in spring.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Verbenaceae
Native Range
Central and South America, Africa
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A vigorous, heat-loving shrub producing dense clusters of small flowers that shift color as they age, from yellow or orange to red or pink. Extremely tolerant of poor conditions and drought once established.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Lantana grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Lantana camara offers reliable, continuous bloom over a long season with minimal inputs once established, making it useful in low-maintenance landscape schemes where other flowering shrubs might require regular watering or fertilization. Its ability to thrive in poor, sandy, or degraded soils and tolerate heat and drought sets it apart from many ornamental alternatives, particularly in regions with hot summers and irregular moisture. The flowers attract pollinators throughout the growing season, adding value in permaculture settings focused on supporting beneficial insects.
Watch out for
Lantana can spread aggressively through self-seeding in warm climates, so deadheading or monitoring seedlings may be necessary to prevent unwanted spread into adjacent plantings. It benefits from occasional pruning to maintain shape and encourage bushier growth, rather than becoming leggy. In cooler zones, expect die-back in winter, though plants typically regenerate from the base in spring.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Verbenaceae
Native Range
Central and South America, Africa
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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