Yes, it is highly invasive in many warm climates and should be avoided in those regions.

Can I grow Lantana in a pot?

It grows very well in containers and makes a great patio plant.

Plant guide

Lantana.

Lantana camara L.

Pronounced lan-TAH-nuh kuh-MARE-uh

Also known as Bird's Brandy, Black Sage, Cherry Pie, Cherry-Pie, Common Lantana, Lantana, Largeleaf Lantana

common lantana — Photo by Matt Berger (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Lantana is a cheerful, sun loving shrub that produces clusters of vibrant, multi colored flowers. It is a fantastic choice for attracting butterflies and bees to your garden. You will find it thrives in warm climates and handles heat quite well.

Another photo of Lantana — Photo by Hugh Chan (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial shrub
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 3 to 6 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 8 to 11
Bloom time: Late spring to first frost

Care

Plant your lantana in a spot that gets plenty of sunshine to encourage the best blooms. Keep an eye out for wilting leaves, which usually means it needs a good drink. Regular deadheading will keep the plant looking tidy and promote more flowers throughout the season.

Watering: Water deeply once the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back the stems by a few inches every few months to encourage a bushier shape.
Repotting: Move to a larger container once the roots begin to circle the bottom of the pot.
Soil: Well draining, fertile soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 10 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Stunted growth during the active season.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.

Safety

People: The foliage and unripe berries contain triterpenoids that are poisonous to humans and pets.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep it away from curious pets.
Children: Keep this plant away from children as the berries are tempting but toxic if eaten.
Contact allergens: The leaves have fine, stiff hairs that can cause skin irritation or dermatitis upon contact.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is not typically considered a major airborne allergen.
Edibility: All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested and can cause severe gastrointestinal distress.

How to identify it

Clusters of small tubular flowers
Rough, ovate, serrated green leaves
Strong, pungent scent when crushed
Small, dark, berry like fruits

Height: 0.6 to 1.8m
Spread: 0.6 to 1.8m
Leaves: dark green, evergreen
Flowers: yellow, orange, red, pink, white, 2 to 5cm
Fruit: green, black, Late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

Powdery MildewCommon
WhiteflyCommon
Root RotUncommon
Sooty MoldUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, early summer
Overwintering: In cold climates, treat as an annual or bring pots indoors to a bright, cool location. If kept outdoors in mild areas, prune back in late winter to encourage fresh growth.
In containers: It is excellent for containers, requiring a pot at least 30 centimeters wide with good drainage.

Stem Cuttings

1. Take a 10 centimeter cutting from a non flowering stem.
2. Remove the lower leaves.
3. Dip the end in rooting hormone.
4. Place in moist potting mix.
5. Keep in bright, indirect light until rooted.

Pair with other heat loving, drought tolerant plants to create a low maintenance summer display.

Grows well with

Salvia — They share similar water and light requirements.
Zinnia — Both thrive in hot, sunny conditions.
Pentas — They are both excellent magnets for butterflies.

Similar species

Verbena — They are closely related and share similar flower structures.

Science

Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Lantana
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Tropical and subtropical Americas
Conservation: It is listed as a noxious weed in many areas and should not be planted near natural habitats.

It thrives in disturbed soils and open sunny areas where it outcompetes native vegetation.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, attracts pollinators
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Uses: ornamental shrub, container plant, pollinator garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 3/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 8/9
Nutrients: 5/9
Moisture: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is Lantana invasive?: Yes, it is highly invasive in many warm climates and should be avoided in those regions.
Can I grow Lantana in a pot?: It grows very well in containers and makes a great patio plant.

Where the name comes from

The genus name comes from the Latin name for Viburnum, which has similar leaves. The species name camara is a Brazilian name for this plant.

Good to know

The flowers change color as they age, often showing multiple colors on the same cluster.
It is a member of the Verbenaceae family.
Lantana is extremely heat and drought tolerant once established.
It is often used as an annual in cooler climates.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.