Lantana camara is a beautiful and widely admired ornamental plant known for its vivid, ever-changing flower clusters and its resilience in a variety of landscapes. With a shrubby, sprawling growth habit and textured, dark green leaves that release a pungent aroma when touched, this plant brings both color and structure to gardens and public spaces. Its striking blooms appear in rounded clusters, often blending multiple warm colors—such as yellow, orange, pink, red, and purple—that shift in hue as they age, creating a dynamic display throughout the growing season. Lantana camara thrives in full sun and tolerates heat, drought, poor soils, and coastal conditions, making it especially valuable in arid or low-maintenance gardens. Its long-lasting flowers attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, enhancing its ecological value as well as its aesthetic appeal. Commonly used in borders, containers, mass plantings, and as ground cover, it is prized for its toughness and non-stop color. Its ornamental qualities—vivid blooms, attractive foliage, and wildlife appeal—continue to make Lantana camara a standout choice for gardeners seeking a dependable and eye-catching plant.
 
Growing Instructions for the Lantana
 
Lantana seeds have slow and irregular germination. The seeds typically take 6 to 8 weeks to germinate. Because of this long germination period, it is essential to use sterile soil mix to prevent soil-borne diseases, and water carefully to avoid rotting of the seeds themselves. The seeds need moist, well-drained soil. Lantana is easiest to grow from seed when you keep the soil consistently moist and at a steady temperature between 70 and 75 F. (21-24 C.) day and night. 1. Soak the seed in water for 24 hours. 2. Put a sterile soil mix in a pot. Use a pot that has drainage holes in the base. Put the pot on a tray. 3. Sow the seeds 1/8 inch deep. 5. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet. 6. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in part shade. Lantana seeds germinate better when the temperature is 70 degrees F or above. 7. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.