Cultivating Lantana
By member Janet Coleman
of Desert Planters of Ridgecrest
One easy way to get double use of space in your garden is to plant spring bulbs and annuals in one area. In the midst of that, plant lantana confetti (pink/yellow) and/or lantana radiation (red/yellow), a colorful ground cover.
The growth of lantana begins in May/June when the bulbs and annuals are dying back from the heat. Lantanas stay in bloom till frost. Confetti and Radiation will grow 3-4 feet wide. If you want more height, train them with objects under the branches to lift them starting in May/June. If you want 3-4 foot circles with only a few standing up, then allow nature to take its course.
As the leaves fall off during the summer in the area of the main plant, they make good mulch to help keep the ground cooler. Prune the plants in early spring. They do not require a rich soil and are very xeric, requiring minimal water.