Lantana camara

Common lantana is an annual or perennial, small, broadleaf evergreen shrub in the Verbenaceae (verbena) family that has woody stems but a sprawling habit. It is 1 to 6 feet high and 3 to 5 feet wide. It is native to the West Indies and Mexico to Tropical America. 

Lantana prefers full sun in moist, well-drained soil, but will tolerate poor soil and drought. It is known for its salt tolerance and will grow as a perennial in the warm coastal areas of North Carolina. Some varieties, such as 'Miss Huff', 'Ham and Eggs', and 'Chapel Hill Yellow' are frost-hardy in the Piedmont region. 

The showy flowers – attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators – appear from midsummer until the first frost and come in a wide range of colors.

Common lantana is often used as a houseplant, in hanging baskets, or in pollinator and flower gardens as a cultivated woody shrub or groundcover. This plant does grow quickly and aggressively so plan its location accordingly.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 

Whiteflies and spider mites can affect plants kept over the winter. In certain areas of the country with more tropical climates common lantana is weedy or even invasive. Leaves and unripe, green berries can cause minor skin irritation. It is toxic to livestock such as cattle, sheep, horses, and goats. Some cultivars have shown excellent resistance to phytophthora. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.