Seed preparation
If you collect your own seed, pick ripe black berries, wear gloves, rub off the pulp in water and dry the seed. Unripe berries are poisonous; keep them away from children and animals.
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Shrub growing guide
Lantana is a sun-loving shrub with clusters of small flowers that change colour as they open. It is also a serious invasive weed and poisonous to livestock, so grow it only in contained garden spaces away from pasture and natural areas.
If you collect your own seed, pick ripe black berries, wear gloves, rub off the pulp in water and dry the seed. Unripe berries are poisonous; keep them away from children and animals.
Not useful. In a study from Sri Lanka, scarified and unscarified seeds took up water at the same rate and neither germinated: the dormancy is in the embryo, not the seed coat.
Not needed. Cold treatment is not what breaks this dormancy; in the Sri Lankan study, dry storage of the seed was one of the few treatments to which some seeds responded.
Not needed. Soaking does not break the embryo dormancy.
Keep trays warm and frost-free, for example in a greenhouse or on a sheltered veranda in the warm season.
Cover lightly with fine compost; do not bury the seed deeply.
Free-draining seed compost with added sand or grit.
Keep evenly moist but not wet. Germination is slow, so check the tray regularly rather than giving up early.
Bright, indirect light for the tray; full sun for growing plants.
Expect weeks to months and low, uneven germination. Sow plenty of seed and keep the tray for several months before giving up.
Move seedlings into individual pots when they have two or three true leaves and are large enough to handle.
Plant out after the last frost in a sunny, well-drained spot, 50-60 cm (20-24 in) apart, or keep in large containers. Choose a site away from pasture, bushland and forest edges.
Young plants establish quickly in warmth. Pinch the tips for a bushier shape and water regularly until roots are established.
Lantana camara is a major invasive weed in India and Australia. In Queensland it is a restricted invasive plant that must not be sold, given away or released. Check local rules, never plant it near forests or grazing land, and remove berries before birds take them.
Leaves are highly toxic to cattle, sheep, goats and horses, and to dogs and cats; unripe berries are poisonous to people. Sap and leaves can irritate sensitive skin, so wear gloves when pruning.
Prune in spring before growth starts and lightly during the season to keep the shape. Overgrown plants can be cut back almost to the ground at the end of the season and reflower on new growth.
Established plants tolerate drought, heat and salt, but flower more with regular watering. Use small amounts of slow-release fertilizer.
Seedlings vary. To keep a particular plant, take cuttings during the growing season. Where available, sterile cultivars that set no viable seed are the safer garden choice.
Grow lantana in sunny, contained beds or pots, away from grazing animals and natural areas.
Fresh lantana seed is deeply dormant and germinates slowly and unevenly. Keep the tray moist and warm for several months, and sow more seed than you need.
Yes. The leaves are toxic to livestock and pets, and unripe berries are poisonous to people. Do not plant it where animals graze.
That depends on where you live. In Queensland, Australia, it must not be sold, given away or released. Elsewhere, check local rules and keep plants from spreading.