Complete Gardening
Lantana plants are heat-loving perennials that reward gardeners with months of non-stop color. These butterfly magnets thrive when temperatures soar, making them perfect for summer gardens and hot climates. Whether you’re looking to brighten a patio container or create a drought-resistant landscape, these 15 lantana varieties offer remarkable staying power and vibrant blooms throughout the warm season.
1. Landmark Citrus Lantana
Bursting with sunshine-yellow flowers that transition to peachy-orange, Landmark Citrus creates a tropical feel in any garden. The bi-colored blooms resemble tiny sunsets against the plant’s dark green foliage.
This compact variety reaches just 12-16 inches tall but spreads up to 2 feet wide, making it ideal for borders and containers. Heat and drought never faze this tough performer.
Butterflies flock to these nectar-rich flowers all summer long. Plant in full sun for best flowering, and this low-maintenance beauty will reward you with continuous color from spring until frost.
2. Bandana Red Lantana
Fiery crimson blooms make Bandana Red a showstopper in summer gardens. This vigorous variety creates a blanket of intense color that never fades, even during the hottest days of summer.
Growing 20-24 inches tall and wide, Bandana Red forms a nicely mounded shape without becoming leggy. The rich red flowers provide a dramatic contrast against the textured dark green leaves.
Hummingbirds can’t resist these vibrant blooms! This lantana variety performs exceptionally well in containers but also makes a stunning mass planting in landscapes. Virtually pest-free and drought-tolerant once established.
3. Luscious Grape Lantana
Purple lovers rejoice! Luscious Grape lantana offers clusters of lavender and violet flowers that create a cool, calming presence in hot weather gardens. The unique color combination stands out beautifully against silver-leaved plants.
This prolific bloomer grows 24-30 inches tall and wide, creating a substantial presence in the landscape. Unlike some varieties, Luscious Grape produces very few seeds, directing more energy into continuous flower production.
Especially attractive to tiger swallowtail butterflies, this lantana thrives in hot, sunny locations. Try pairing it with yellow lantanas for a striking color combination that will enliven any garden space.
4. Lucky Flame Lantana
A color-changing marvel, Lucky Flame opens with golden-yellow blooms that gradually transform to fiery orange-red. This creates multi-colored flower clusters that seem to flicker like flames in the summer breeze.
Compact and well-behaved, this variety stays under 16 inches tall but spreads up to 20 inches wide. The smaller size makes it perfect for containers and front-of-border plantings where its continuous color can be appreciated up close.
Lucky Flame establishes quickly and flowers heavily from planting time until frost. Its drought tolerance is legendary, often performing better with less water once established. A true low-maintenance superstar for hot, sunny spots.
5. Chapel Hill Yellow Lantana
Sunshine in plant form! Chapel Hill Yellow produces masses of bright, clear yellow flower clusters that never fade to orange, maintaining their pure color throughout the season. The cheerful blooms stand out vividly against the plant’s deep green foliage.
This sterile variety puts all its energy into flowering rather than seed production. Growing 12-18 inches tall and spreading up to 3 feet, it creates an impressive display when given room to roam.
Chapel Hill Yellow bounces back quickly after rain, making it more reliable in humid climates than some lantana varieties. Its non-stop blooming habit continues well into fall, often flowering until the first frost.
6. Bandito Orange Sunrise Lantana
Morning glory meets sunset! Bandito Orange Sunrise features flower clusters that open yellow in the center and blend outward to coral-orange. The bicolor effect creates a sunrise appearance that brightens any garden spot.
Extra compact at just 10-12 inches tall, this petite performer fits perfectly in small spaces and container gardens. Don’t let its small stature fool you – this variety produces flowers non-stop from spring through fall.
Bandito varieties were bred specifically for heat tolerance and continuous flowering. This little powerhouse thrives in hot, dry conditions where other plants struggle. Its naturally mounded habit requires no pruning to maintain its tidy shape.
7. Luscious Marmalade Lantana
Orange you glad this lantana exists? Luscious Marmalade produces vibrant orange blooms with hints of gold that positively glow in the summer garden. The intensely saturated color creates a tropical feel even in ordinary landscapes.
Growing 18-24 inches tall and up to 3 feet wide, this variety forms a substantial mound of continuous color. The bright flowers contrast beautifully with the dark green, slightly aromatic foliage.
Exceptionally heat and drought tolerant, Luscious Marmalade often performs better during hot spells than in cooler weather. This variety is sterile, so it won’t set seeds or become invasive, instead directing all its energy into producing more of those fabulous orange blooms.
8. Bandana Cherry Sunrise Lantana
Candy-colored delight! Bandana Cherry Sunrise features a sweet combination of soft yellow centers that transition to cherry-pink outer blooms. The bicolor effect creates a festive, confetti-like appearance in the garden.
This moderately compact variety reaches 20-24 inches tall and wide with a nicely rounded growth habit. The flowers appear continuously from spring through fall, intensifying in color during the hottest months.
Bandana Cherry Sunrise performs beautifully in hanging baskets where its cascading habit can be appreciated. Butterflies find the nectar-rich blooms irresistible. This variety also makes excellent cut flowers, bringing its cheerful colors indoors where the subtle, spicy fragrance can be enjoyed.
9. Dallas Red Lantana
Tried and true! Dallas Red has been a garden favorite for decades due to its reliable performance in extreme heat. The rich crimson-red flowers never fade or diminish, even during triple-digit temperature days.
This vigorous variety grows 3-4 feet tall and equally wide, creating a substantial presence in the landscape. The large flower clusters completely cover the plant throughout the growing season, creating a dramatic color statement.
Dallas Red has excellent disease resistance and drought tolerance. Its robust nature makes it ideal for highway plantings and commercial landscapes, but home gardeners appreciate its ability to flower continuously with minimal care. A true workhorse in the summer garden!
10. Samantha Lantana
Sweet and petite! Samantha lantana offers clusters of delicate yellow flowers that create a soft, sunny presence in the garden. Unlike varieties with color-changing blooms, Samantha maintains its pure yellow color throughout the flowering cycle.
This compact treasure grows just 12-18 inches tall but spreads up to 2 feet wide, creating a low, mounding habit. The smaller size makes it perfect for edging walkways or filling in between larger perennials.
Samantha’s fine-textured foliage has a lighter green color than many lantanas, creating an airy appearance. This variety flowers incredibly early in the season and continues non-stop until frost. Less aggressive than some lantanas, it plays well with neighboring plants.
11. Luscious Berry Blend Lantana
Berry beautiful! Luscious Berry Blend combines rich fuchsia-pink flowers with hints of purple and yellow, creating a fruit-punch color effect that energizes the garden. The vibrant hues intensify as temperatures rise.
Growing 18-24 inches tall and up to 3 feet wide, this variety forms a substantial flowering mound. The dark green foliage provides the perfect backdrop for the jewel-toned blooms that appear continuously from spring through fall.
Remarkably heat and humidity tolerant, Luscious Berry Blend thrives in challenging conditions. This sterile variety won’t set seed, instead channeling all its energy into producing more flowers. Hummingbirds and butterflies find these nectar-rich blooms irresistible throughout the growing season.
12. New Gold Lantana
Golden standard! New Gold has been the benchmark for yellow lantanas for decades due to its exceptional flowering performance and compact habit. The bright, golden-yellow blooms appear in abundance from spring until frost.
This well-behaved variety grows 12-18 inches tall but spreads up to 3 feet wide, creating a low, dense mat of color. Its naturally mounding habit requires minimal pruning to maintain its tidy appearance.
New Gold establishes quickly and flowers heavily even in its first season. Originally developed in Texas, this heat-loving variety actually blooms more profusely as temperatures rise. Its sterile nature prevents unwanted seedlings while ensuring continuous flower production throughout the growing season.
13. Radiation Lantana
Spectacular color shift! Radiation lantana opens with bright yellow flowers that gradually transform to vivid orange-red, creating multi-colored clusters resembling tiny bouquets. This classic variety has been a garden favorite for generations.
Growing 3-4 feet tall and equally wide, Radiation creates a substantial presence in the landscape. The semi-trailing growth habit works beautifully in hanging baskets or spilling over retaining walls.
Exceptionally heat and drought tolerant, Radiation often flowers more heavily during hot, dry periods than in cooler, wetter conditions. Its vigorous nature allows it to quickly fill large spaces with continuous color. The aromatic foliage naturally repels deer and rabbits, making this a worry-free addition to the garden.
14. Confetti Lantana
Party in the garden! Confetti lantana delivers a festive mix of pink, yellow, and lavender flowers all on the same plant. Each cluster contains multiple colors that change as they age, creating a kaleidoscope effect.
This compact variety grows 18-24 inches tall and wide with a nicely rounded habit. The multicolored blooms appear in abundance against the dark green, textured foliage from spring through fall.
Confetti performs beautifully in containers where its colorful display can be appreciated up close. This variety has excellent heat tolerance but also rebounds quickly after rain, making it more reliable in humid climates than some lantanas. A true conversation starter in the garden!
15. Lucky Pot of Gold Lantana
Treasure for your garden! Lucky Pot of Gold produces masses of clear, bright yellow flower clusters that create a sunny presence even on cloudy days. The cheerful blooms stand out vividly against the deep green foliage.
Extra compact at just 12-16 inches tall and wide, this variety fits perfectly in small spaces and container gardens. The neat, mounded habit requires no pruning to maintain its tidy appearance.
Lucky Pot of Gold establishes quickly and begins flowering earlier than many lantanas. Its continuous blooming habit persists through summer heat waves and into fall. The smaller size makes it ideal for edging garden beds or creating colorful borders along walkways where its butterfly-attracting blooms can be enjoyed up close.