Wild sage Lantana camara Orange

Lantana will thrive in an attractive flower pot or planter. Take a pot with holes in the base, cover the bottom with a layer of potsherds or hydro-pellets. Add some potting compost in the pot and plant the Lantana root ball at the appropriate depth. Fill with soil and press firmly down. Water your Lantana immediately after planting. Place the pot in a sheltered spot, full sun. Lantana Makes Excellent Bedding The very rich flowering Lantana also makes an excellent border and bedding plant, in groups or along the edge of your garden path. This sturdy plant has an attractive appearance when combined with lilies in similar shades and variegated geranium 'Mrs Pollock'.

Water your Lantana on a regular basis to prevent the soil from drying out. However it is important to have adequate drainage as Lantana hates soil which is too wet. Remove its faded flowers on a regular basis to promote the flowering period. If grown in a pot or container, Bakker recommends adding plant food to the water regularly during the summer for an extra rich flowering. Lantana can make it through the winter Keep frost-free in the winter as Lantana is not hardy. Before the first frost, place the pot in a cool, bright room (10-15˚ C). Water sparingly - do not let the soil dry out. Repot your Lantana in the spring using fresh potting compost and then water more frequently. Prune it to shape. Finally, place outdoors to adorn your patio once again! Beware of night frosts. With care, you can look forward to a much larger Lantana in a few years. Lantanas as standard plants are also easily grown.

The colours of its flowers change throughout the flowering period and its buds are dark tinted - so pretty really. The clusters of bright coloured flowers attract butterflies. Lantana is a member of the Verbena family which you can clearly see in both the leaves and the flowers.