howmanyds
Newly Registered
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:03 pm
Location: Murrieta, Riverside County, California; Zone 9

2 questions on lantana

Who doesn't love the multicolored brilliance of a good lantana? I have one that I'm using as a bushy ground cover that I purchased at Lowe's this spring. I have only just done some research on the characteristics of the plant and am discovering that it puts out a toxin to prevent weeds and other plants from growing nearby.

Does anybody know a good safe distance from lantana that other plants can grow? My Asian pear is a mere 3 feet away. I'm hoping its roots will not be affected negatively.

Secondly, and this may be a question better fit for the herb forum, but I have read about the use of the lantana leaves as a medicinal tea. (Yes, I know the unripe berries are poisonous). Can anybody recommend a good reference on how to use the plant medicinally? I could only find general information from searching on Google.

imafan26
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Posts: 13999
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:32 am
Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

It depends on where you live and the type of lantana you plant. In Hawaii it is considered a noxious invasive weed that reseeds and displaces native vegetation and can be poisonous to some animals. There are seedless varieties like "new gold" which would not be invasive.
https://wildlifeofhawaii.com/flowers/577 ... a-lantana/
https://www.southernliving.com/home-gard ... ms-nonstop

Lantana needs ti be cut back annually here as they become messy over time. White flies love them, but it is more of a problem to other plants than to the lantana.

Lantana does have medicinal uses, but like Marlingardener said, you need to know what you are doing.



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