If you're looking for a plant that absolutely refuses to quit - one that blooms all summer long, survives Georgia heat without complaint, and brings in butterflies like it's running a bed and breakfast - lantana is your answer. Seriously. Once you grow it, you'll wonder how your garden survived without it.
At Pixies Gardens in Conyers, GA, lantana is one of our most popular warm-season plants - and for good reason. Whether you're planting in full sun beds, hanging baskets, or along a sunny slope, lantana plants deliver color from spring through the first frost.
What is Lantana? A quick overview
Lantana (Lantana camara) is a tropical and subtropical flowering shrub known for its clusters of tiny, multi-colored blooms. Native to Central and South America, it has become a beloved garden plant across the American South - and it's easy to see why. It's drought-tolerant, heat-loving, and blooms non-stop without fuss.
The flowers are unique because they change color as they age - a single cluster can show yellow, orange, red, and pink all at once. That's not a bug, it's a feature. Butterflies and hummingbirds love it.
Lantana Colors: Which Variety Is Right for You?
One of the most exciting things about lantana is the sheer range of color combinations available. Here's a quick guide to popular lantana varieties and their colors:
• Bandana Cherry Sunrise - Warm yellow, orange, and red blooms. Perfect for sunny borders.
• Miss Huff - Orange and pink. One of the most cold-hardy lantana varieties for Georgia gardens.
• Radiation - Deep red and orange. Striking in full-sun beds.
• Landmark White - Clean white blooms. Elegant and versatile.
• Luscious Berry Blend - purple, pink, and gold. A real show-stopper.
Want to browse the full selection? Check out our Lantana Plants at Pixies Gardens) - we carry a wide range of colors and sizes ready to plant.
Lantana Care Guide: How to Grow Lantana Successfully
Sunlight: Requirements
Lantana is a full-sun plant - it needs at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. In Georgia's climate, that's rarely a problem. The more sun it gets, the more it blooms. Put it in shade and it'll sulk, produce fewer flowers, and become leggy.
Watering Lantanas: Less is More
Here's where a lot of gardeners go wrong: they overwater lantanas. Once established, Lantana is drought-tolerant. Water deeply once or twice a week during the first growing season while the roots establish. After that, let the soil dry out between waterings. If your lantana looks droopy and the soil is wet - that's overwatering, not underwater.
Soil & Fertilizer
Lantana isn't picky about soil - it prefers well-drained, slightly sandy soil over rich, heavily amended soil. Too much nitrogen produces lush green growth at the expense of flowers. Use a balanced slow-release fertilizer sparingly at the beginning of the season, then let the plant do its thing.
Pruning Lantana: Keep It Bushy and Blooming
Regular lantana pruning keeps plants compact and encourages continuous blooming. Here's the simple routine:
• Deadhead spent blooms regularly to push out new flower clusters.
• Cut back by one-third in mid-summer if it gets leggy.
• Hard prune in early spring before new growth begins - cut down about 6 inches from the ground.
Growing Lantanas in Georgia: What You Need to Know
Georgia gardeners are in luck - lantana thrives in Georgia's warm, humid summers. In USDA Zones 8 and 9 (most of Georgia including the Conyers area), lantana can actually behave as a perennial, dying back in winter and re-sprouting from the roots in spring.
In Zone 7b and colder, treat it as an annual or bring containers inside before the first frost. Either way, you'll get a full season of brilliant color from late spring through October or November.
Pro tip from our team at Pixies Gardens: plant lantana in April or May after the last frost date, and it'll hit its stride by June and just keep going all summer.
Lantana as a Pollinator Plant: Butterflies Love It
If you want to attract monarch butterflies, swallowtails, and hummingbirds to your garden, lantana is one of the most attractive plants you can grow. The nectar-rich flowers are irresistible to pollinators, and the dense foliage provides habitat. It's a win for your garden and local ecosystems.
Pair lantana with other pollinator-friendly plants - check out our guide to the best plants for front yard landscaping for ideas that work beautifully alongside lantana.
Ready to Add Lantana to Your Garden?
Lantana is one of those plants that rewards you all season long with almost no fuss. Whether you want a burst of color in a sunny border, a pollinator magnet for your backyard, or a tough-as-nails container plant that shrugs off the summer heat - Lantana delivers every time.
Browse our full selection of Lantana Plants at Pixies Gardens and find the perfect color combo for your space. We're located in Conyers, GA - stop by or shop online!
Frequently Asked Questions About Lantana
Q: Does Lantana come back every year?
In USDA Zones 8–11 (including most of Georgia), lantana can return as a perennial if winter temperatures stay above 20°F. In colder zones, treat it as an annual.
Q: How fast does lantana grow?
Lantana grows fast - it can reach 2–4 feet tall and wide in a single season. Give it room to spread.
Q: Why isn't my lantana blooming?
The two most common reasons are not enough sun or too much fertilizer. Move it to a sunnier spot and cut back on feeding.
Q: Can I grow lantana in a pot?
Absolutely. Lantana grows beautifully in containers - just make sure the pot has drainage holes and gets full sun. Water when the top inch of the soil is dry.
Q: What's the difference between annual and perennial lantana?
It depends on your climate. In warm zones like Georgia, lantana is technically a perennial - it may die back in winter but regrow from its roots. In colder climates, it is grown annually.
