Lantana makes a terrific container trailing plant

Lantana or sometimes called Spanish Flag

About the Lantana

The Lantana annual bedding plant grows in an outward trailing fashion and is great for hanging baskets and containers. I enjoy planting the Lantana especially if I know I'll be away for a couple of weeks during the summer months. This is one of the very few trailing annuals that do well in hanging baskets in hot, dry weather.

How To Grow the Lantana

Believe it or not, in some parts of the world, like Australia, where it grows as a perennial, it is considered a noxious weed as it spreads very quickly.

I plant it for its vibrant colors, albeit as the flower clusters age they lessen in their coloring hue. The foliage is a deep green and when crushed or rubbed gives off an unpleaseant ordor. Watch out though, as this annnual is toxic to annimals.

If you have planted the trailing variety (there are over 100 different varieties), you will have noticed that once the flower clusters wilt and you knock the plant, the entire cluster falls leaving the seed pod. Remember to deadhead this seed pod in order for continous blooming.

Most times you will see the trailing Lantana growing on its own in a hanging basket. I go out on a limb and grow the yellow variety and mix it with the orange Celosia and the Victoria Blue Salvia in a large container.

Other great companion plants: Sweet Potato Vine or a striking contrast annual like the Ageratum.

Please visit my Site Index Page for additional annuals and perennials to grow in your next flowerbed garden design.

Features:

• grows 12" to 18" long
• does well in poorer soil conditions
• grow in full sun
• does well in hot, dry weather
• clusters of tiny flowers in orange, red, yellow
• deadhead spent blooms. They will actually fall off and you are left with the seed pod

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