Bandito™ Lantana Lantana camara Bandito™
- Phonetic Spelling
- lan-TAN-a kuh-MAR-uh
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Bandito™ lantana is a small, annual, woody, broadleaf evergreen shrub in the Verbenaceae (verbena) family. It was developed to withstand hot, humid southern summers while still providing knock-out, long-lasting flowers that are very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. It has a dense and mounding form approximately 1 foot high by foot wide.
Plant it in full sun in moist, well-drained clay, loam, or sandy soil with a neutral pH. It is tolerant of both poor soil and drought.
The showy flowers appear from spring until fall and come in a wide range of colors. They provide nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies. Birds enjoy the berries.
Use this tropical feel plant in containers, hanging baskets, and as a houseplant. Its size makes it ideal for a small space or courtyard. It is a wonderful addition to butterfly, cottage, pollinator, or rock gardens. This plant does grow quickly and aggressively so plan its location accordingly.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Whiteflies and spider mites can affect plants kept over the winter. In areas of the country with more tropical climates Lantana camera is weedy or even invasive. Leaves and unripe, green berries can cause minor skin irritation. It is toxic to livestock such as cattle, sheep, horses, and goats.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bandito Orange Sunrise'
- 'Bandito Red'
- 'Bandito Rose'
- 'Lemon Zest'
- 'Bandito Orange Sunrise'
- 'Bandito Orange Sunrise', 'Bandito Red', 'Bandito Rose', 'Lemon Zest'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bandito Orange Sunrise'
- 'Bandito Red'
- 'Bandito Rose'
- 'Lemon Zest'
- 'Bandito Orange Sunrise'
- 'Bandito Orange Sunrise', 'Bandito Red', 'Bandito Rose', 'Lemon Zest'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lantana
- Species:
- camara
- Family:
- Verbenaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies. Berries are edible to birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 2 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 2 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 0.3 in. orange or red fleshy berry-like drupe turns metallic blue or purple-black
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Multicolored blooms last from summer into fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rounded medium green leaves are 2-5" long, 1-2" wide with toothed edges.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Poor Soil
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
