Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Irene Lantana
Irene Lantana is one of the shorter bush lantanas, with clusters that open bright pink and yellow and darken to magenta as they age. It stays about 1 to 2 feet tall and spreads 3 to 5 feet, almost like a trailing lantana. It thrives in the reflected heat along curbs, walkways and walls, and it blooms from spring through fall. Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds all visit the flowers.
Best for: curb strips, walkways and borders with reflected heat, banks and slopes, pots and small gardens, and hummingbird and butterfly plantings.
Irene does well along curbs, walkways and walls, where reflected heat damages many other plants. At 1 to 2 feet tall it stays low along the edge of a walk or drive.
Set plants 4 to 6 feet apart on a bank or in a large bed. They spread 3 to 5 feet each and grow together into a low sheet of pink and magenta.
Its short, spreading habit suits containers, planters and small garden beds. Place pots in full sun and use a container with a drainage hole.
Frost burns it back in a cold winter, so plan to prune in early March. Whiteflies can build up in late summer. All parts are toxic if eaten, so keep it away from pets that chew plants.
- Plant to plant4-6 ft apart
- Faster bank cover4 ft apart
Water a new plant every few days for the first few weeks, then gradually water less often. Once it is rooted, one deep watering a week in summer is enough, and less in the cooler months.
Prune after the last winter frost, usually early March. Cut off frost-damaged branches and reshape the plant, taking it down to about 6 inches if it froze hard. New growth comes back quickly and blooms.
Whiteflies are the main pest on lantana and are most common in late summer. Look under the leaves, and treat the plant if the numbers climb.
The leaves can irritate skin, and all parts are toxic if eaten. Wear gloves to prune, and keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Irene lantana get?
Plan for about 1 to 2 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. It is one of the shorter bush lantanas, with a spreading habit close to a trailing type.
What color are Irene lantana flowers?
The clusters open bright pink and yellow, then darken to magenta as they age. Each cluster shows several colors at once.
How far apart should I plant Irene lantana?
Plant it 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center. Use about 4 feet apart when you want a bank covered sooner. The Spacing tab shows both.
Can Irene lantana take reflected heat?
Yes. It thrives along curbs, walkways and walls where reflected heat burns many other plants. Give it full sun for the most flowers.
How often should I water Irene lantana?
Water it often for the first few weeks, then taper off. Once rooted, water deeply about once a week in summer and less often in the cooler months.
When should I prune Irene lantana?
Prune after the last winter frost, usually early March. Remove frost-damaged branches and reshape the plant, cutting to about 6 inches if it froze hard.
Does Irene lantana attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees visit the flowers from spring through fall. Plant it in full sun, where it flowers the most.
Is Irene lantana poisonous to dogs and cats?
Yes. All parts of lantana are toxic to dogs, cats and horses, especially the berries. Plant it where pets will not chew it, and call your vet if they eat any.
Does lantana irritate skin?
The leaves can irritate skin. Wear gloves and long sleeves when you prune or handle it.
What are the tiny white bugs on my lantana?
They are usually whiteflies, which build up on lantana in late summer. Check under the leaves and treat the plant if their numbers keep climbing.
Will rabbits eat Irene lantana?
Rabbits and deer tend to leave lantana alone because of its strong-smelling leaves. It is a good choice for yards where rabbits browse.
Can lantana bother allergies?
It can. Its pollen can bother people with allergies.
Irene Lantana for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Irene Lantana is a short, spreading bush lantana with pink, yellow and magenta flowers on the same cluster. It fits the hot strips along curbs and walkways where many plants burn. Below you will find its size, spacing, water and frost care, pet safety, and how it compares with other lantanas.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Is Irene lantana good for Phoenix heat?
Yes. It thrives in the reflected heat along curbs, walkways and walls. Once rooted it handles drought, though a weekly summer watering keeps it blooming.
How big does Irene lantana get?
Irene stays about 1 to 2 feet tall and spreads 3 to 5 feet. That makes it one of the shorter bush lantanas.
How far apart to plant Irene lantana
Plant it 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center. For faster cover on a bank or in a large bed, set plants about 4 feet apart.
What colors are Irene lantana flowers?
Each cluster opens bright pink and yellow and darkens to magenta as it ages. The plant shows all three colors at once from spring through fall.
When to prune Irene lantana in Arizona
Prune after the last winter frost, usually early March. Take off frost-damaged branches and reshape the plant, cutting it to about 6 inches after a hard freeze.
Irene vs Confetti lantana
Both lantanas have multicolored flower clusters. Irene is short, about 1 to 2 feet tall, with pink, yellow and magenta flowers. Confetti grows 2 to 3 feet tall and spreads much wider, up to about 8 feet.
Is lantana toxic to pets?
Yes. All parts of lantana are toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and the berries are poisonous. Plant it where pets will not chew it.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.