My Butterfly Garden

Lantana is a great flower for your butterfly garden

Lantana is commonly used in butterfly gardens, because it attracts so many butterflies and hummingbirds. it is a beautiful plant that blooms continuously all summer and fall.

 
Lantana is native to the tropics. It has many forms, some are shrubby and others are trailing. It has become naturalized in Florida and in some conditions it can be invasive. The colorful flowers attract both butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. If you decide to grow it, please be aware that all parts of the plant are toxic to humans and animals.
 
Lantana blooms are made up of small trumpet shaped flowers, they vary in color combinations of yellow, red, orange, white and pink. The blooms or leaves sometimes give off an unpleasant odor that has been compared to “cat pee”. It is hardy in Zones 8 through 11. Everywhere else, it can be grown as an annual or taken indoors in the wintertime.
 
Lantana grows quickly and prefers full sun to partial shade . If Lantana is overwatered or overfed it will stop blooming. It is always best to choose cultivated varieties from garden centers and not by digging up plants growing in the wild.
 
Lantana is hardly ever bothered by pests or diseases. It can also be used in Xeriscaping because it can handle dry conditions. Lantana is usually used as a container plant that trails over the edges of the pots that adds a colorful touch to porches or patios.
 
Lantana can be easily propagated by seeds or by taking cuttings in the summer. If you have a hybrid Lantana plant it needs to only be propagated by taking cuttings. Otherwise you may not end up with the same plant you started with.
 
Lantana is a great choice for the butterfly garden, it blooms all summer and is really easy to take care of. Just remember to plant it in full sun or partial shade and not to overwater or overfeed your plant.