If you’ve been browsing your local garden center lately, you’ve probably noticed Lantanas sold as elegant little “standard” trees. They look great, but man, those price tags can be steep! While the bushier, more natural-looking Lantanas are way more affordable, they can definitely start hogging all your patio space if you aren’t careful.
Not Your Average Garden Bed Plant
In most parts of the country, Lantanas are best kept in containers. Why? Well, these beauties originally hail from Central America, so they’re used to much balmier weather than our chilly winters can offer. Unless you live in a frost-free zone, keeping them in pots is the way to go so you can move them inside when the temperature drops. The catch is that in a pot—especially on a small balcony—they don’t always have the room they need to just “do their thing” and grow wild.
Understanding How Lantanas Grow
Left to their own devices, a Lantana’s main stem will quickly sprout side branches. These stems tend to be a bit bristly and love to arch over the sides of the pot. Now, you might think, “I’ll just go easy on the plant food to slow it down,” but that’s a trap! If you skimp on nutrients, your Lantana will likely stop blooming altogether. So, trying to control its size by withholding fertilizer isn’t really a winning strategy.
How to Shape Your Bushy Lantana
The secret to a gorgeous, well-behaved bush is all in the timing of your pruning. You want to get in there early in the spring while the plant is vigorously pushing out new growth. By trimming back the sides early on, you encourage the plant to branch out more, resulting in a much denser, fuller look.
Be careful not to wait too long, though! Lantanas typically bloom on new wood. If you prune too late in the season, you might accidentally cut off this year’s flower buds, leaving you with a green bush but no colorful blossoms.
To keep your Lantana bush looking its best, just remember:
- These plants are fast growers and love to spread out.
- They naturally want to spill over the edges of their containers.
- Stick to a spring pruning schedule to ensure you don’t sacrifice those beautiful flowers.
