How To Enjoy Colorful Lantana In Your Yard Without It Taking Over

Lantana (Lantana camara) is a tough, drought-resistant plant that brings lots of long-lasting color and wildlife to your yard. Some even say lantana repels mosquitos, but this plant also has a tendency to become a noxious weed or even invasive in warm climates where frost doesn't kill this tender plant. It's only hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11, so if you expect frost and snow in the winter, you don't have to worry about lantana taking over. However, in these aforementioned warmer zones, you need to be more careful. 

If you love lantana, don't fret! This plant does very well in containers and can be incorporated in your yard in a number of ways without worrying about it going rogue. Lantana loves the sun and is happy in average soil but will tolerate poor soil. These are hallmarks of a plant that will thrive in containers that tend to dry out quickly and have nutrients leak from the soil. So, whether you want to stick with the simple formula for designing container gardens that calls for thrillers, fillers, and spillers, or to plant a hanging basket with trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis) for dramatic color from above, you have options.

Lantana isn't picky. It wants full-sun and well-drained soil but can also handle drying out between waterings. Because lantana is so hardy, it's a versatile plant that can fit well in almost any container combination. As long as it is paired with other sun-loving plants, it will probably do just fine. Often used as a filler in pots, you can pair lantana with taller plants like angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) and spillers like calibrachoa (Calibrachoa x hybrida).

Trailing lantana loves similar growing conditions but, as the name implies, has a more trailing habit. You can use it in pots as a spiller with other heat-loving plants, or fill hanging baskets so that they are overflowing with lantana. There are many color options available, so if you want to create some variation in your hanging baskets try experimenting with different combinations. Learn how to grow trailing lantana in hanging baskets to ensure the best results. The main thing to keep in mind when you plant lantana in a container is that it will not tolerate shade or soggy soil. So, put your plants in pots with good drainage and well-drained soil.

If you love lantana and want to let it grow to its full size, you may need to set aside a safe space for it to grow without taking over. While you can use it with other plants that will out compete it, such as ​​butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), to be safe you may want to keep it segregated in a space with limited room for expansion. Planting it in areas that have hardscape boundaries like sidewalks or patios can also help contain it.

If you don't already have an obvious place for these plants to thrive without bullying their garden companions and becoming invasive, consider building one. You can explore these 20 designs for raised bed gardens to find an option that works for your yard, or inspire an entirely new idea. Just remember, the goal is to keep these plants contained and from becoming a problem in your yard or beyond. The easiest solution might simply be to bury a pot and plant your lantana inside of it.

No matter where you plant them, deadheading these plants is critical to controlling the spread. Lantana produces berries that can be spread by birds, so you will want to ensure you cut them back before they have a chance to produce fruit. Their tough nature makes them hard to get rid of once they are established so take great care before deciding to put these plants in the ground — or avoid it entirely.