Lantana-The Wonder Plant

Here are some pictures of lantana Skeeter sent in. I am not sure which variety this lantana is but the scientific name is Lantana camara. My Southern Living Garden Book identifies this lantana as a southern heritage plant. Southern heritage plants grow well in the south and are choice plants for novices. Given a choice between an unknown type of plant and a southern heritage, I almost always choose southern heritage plants because they have been proven. Lantana is DROUGHT tolerant and blooms pretty much non-stop during the growing season so it is a worthwhile plant to grow even for just one season. Lantana may or may not come back so it may need to be treated as an annual here in middle Tennessee. Skeeter reports it comes back for her in Georgia. Her part of Georgia is considered the lower south whereas we are considered the upper south growing region. The pictures cannot show the fragrance of lantana but lantana is fragrant and will attract butterflies. I think lantanas smell a little like peonies, but that is just my opinion. So here you go middle Tennessee gardeners-a drought tolerant alternative to the water greedy begonias and impatiens we all like to plant here. Give it a try if you aren't already.

in the garden.....