Lantana
Lantana camara
- Native to:
- Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Navassa Island, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Trinidad-Tobago, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Is.
Alvesgaspar
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Verbenaceae
- Genus:
- Lantana
- Species:
- Lantana camara
- USDA Symbol:
- LACA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Vine
- Height:
- 180 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jan,feb,mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov,dec
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, orange, red, pink, white, lavender
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Epinotia lantana, lantana plume moth (Lantanophaga pusillidactyla), Notioplusia illustrata, Rustic Sphinx (Manduca rustica), Synchlora cupedinaria, Synchlora herbaria
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica) Moths:Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) Butterflies:Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Eastern/Western Giant (Heraclides rumiko), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), Julia butterfly (Dione vanillae), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Small White (Pieris rapae)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, hummingbirds, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire; fire can stimulate dense regrowth.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to tropical regions with varied soil types
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have low viability; fresh seed germinates best. Warm temperatures (70-75°F) improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.