Lantana Varieties Compared
The short answer
All of these lantanas bloom from spring until the first frost, take full sun and reflected heat, and grow fast. Pick a bush type for beds and hot walls, or White Trailing Lantana for slopes and wall tops. Then pick by color and size, or choose New Gold if you want a lantana that sets almost no seed.
Side by side
| Variety | Type | Size | Flowers | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiation | Bush | 3 to 5 ft tall, 3 to 6 ft wide | Orange-red with yellow | Large hot beds, slopes, hummingbird gardens |
| Dallas Red | Bush | 3 to 4 ft tall, 4 to 5 ft wide | Red with golden yellow | Bold red beds, fast cover for large sunny areas |
| Confetti | Bush, wide spreader | 2 to 3 ft tall, 6 to 8 ft wide | Yellow, pink and magenta together | Wide beds, spilling over low walls and big pots |
| Rose | Bush | 2 to 3 ft tall, 3 to 4 ft wide | Rose, pink, yellow, orange and fuchsia | Hot wall and driveway beds |
| New Gold | Bush, low mound | About 2 ft tall, 3 to 4 ft wide | Solid gold | Groundcover, bed edges, pots; sets almost no seed |
| Irene | Bush, low spreader | 1 to 2 ft tall, 3 to 5 ft wide | Pink and yellow, aging to magenta | Curbs, walkways, banks and pots |
| White Trailing | Trailing | 1 to 2 ft tall, 3 to 6 ft wide | White | Slopes, banks, wall tops and raised beds |
What they all share
- Full sun and reflected heat off walls, drives and sidewalks. More sun brings more flowers.
- Water about once a week in summer once rooted, and less in the cooler months.
- Frost burns them back, and they regrow from the base. Cut them back to about 6 inches in early March.
- Butterflies and bees visit the flowers, and rabbits and deer tend to leave them alone.
- Plant about 4 to 6 feet apart, or about 4 feet for faster cover.
Choose a bush lantana if...
- You are filling a hot bed by a wall, driveway or sidewalk.
- You want height. Radiation is the largest, and Dallas Red is next.
- You want hummingbirds. Radiation, Confetti and Irene all draw them.
- You want one color (New Gold, Dallas Red) or a mix of colors (Confetti, Irene, Rose).
Choose White Trailing Lantana if...
- You need low cover on a slope or bank.
- You want stems that spill over a wall, raised bed or big pot.
- You want low white flowers about 1 to 2 feet tall.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between bush and trailing lantana?
Bush lantanas mound up about 1 to 5 feet tall, depending on the variety. Trailing lantana is a different species that stays low and spreads wide, for slopes and wall tops.
Which lantana does not spread by seed?
New Gold. It is a sterile variety that sets almost no seed.
Which lantana gets the biggest?
Radiation, at about 3 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. Confetti stays lower but spreads the widest, up to about 8 feet.
When do I cut back lantana in the Valley?
Leave frost damage in place until frost danger passes, usually early March. Then cut it back hard, to about 6 inches, and it regrows and blooms on the new growth.
Is lantana toxic to dogs and cats?
Yes. All parts are toxic to dogs, cats and horses, especially the berries. Plant it where pets will not chew it, and wear gloves when you prune, since the leaves can irritate skin.
What are the tiny white bugs on my lantana?
Usually whiteflies, the main pest on lantana. They build up in late summer, so check under the leaves and treat the plant if their numbers climb.