Lantana camara

I'm aware this plant is not hardy anywhere on the mainland (well maybe in central London and the far southwest tips of Cornwall, it might come back from the ground), but has anyone who has grown it as an annual known it's propensity to self seed? Obviously the seedlings won't get through the winter outside, but I'm thinking more along the lines of being able to propagate for more plants for next year.. any info would be good.

 

Very easy from seed and it forms lots.Never saw any self sown plants though.
I found dead heading was needed in order to keep the plants flowering.

 

Thanks Pete, I will probably put the Lantana in the greenhouse, but it would be nice to have some seeds/seedlings as standby of course.

 

Stephen, I got rid of my Lantana hedge last year, three colours, the pink/blue, the yellow white and the yellow. It was a nightmare here, having to cut it back every week and I became allergic to it ... so up it came and to the lixo (rubbish). It may attract butterflies and such like but it has an unpleasant scent and it so prickly you need leather gloves on to cut it ... at least here you do, probably doesn't grow that big there!

If I had a large property I would plant it around the periphery of the property as it can be quite stunning left to it's own devices but certainly not as I did as a small hedge by the dining patio.

Also, although we only have about two/three days of light frost a year if that. it defoliates the plant and I am an evergreen lover.

Will answer your mail soon.

 

I found if you keep it in leaf overwinter it attracts whitefly like a magnet, so I used to dry it almost out at the roots, at which point all the leaves fall off.
By doing that I managed to keep a couple of standard plants in an unheated garage overwinter.

 

Victoria, I find the scent actually quite pleasing, it's a little like passionfruit, I do like that scent, but then I like the scent from Lingustrum flowers too so I have an odd sense of smell.

if I was to grow one, it would be in a pot, certainly no point in growing it in the ground, unless I have loads of plants I could 'throw away'. A weed in one place is an awesome plant in the next, but we'll see how it goes. Apparently, Lantana depressa would do better here, and might even stay evergreen, but I'm not sure I can source a Lantana depressa in UK.

Pete I'll give that suggestion a go, I guess there is a find line between drying out to induce dormancy, and drying it out so much it dries up and dies?

 

I gave up growing Lantana due to the white fly problem, and the cat pee smell of the leaves.

 

Wow, thanks strongy on the unpleasant smell ...