Lantana camara 'Miss Huff'

'Miss Huff ' lantana is a woody perennial in the Verbenaceae (verbena) family. It is the most cold-hardy lantana and is often evergreen, blooming on and off in the mild winters of the South. The parent plant is native to the West Indies, Mexico, and tropical America. ‘Miss Huff’ originated from cuttings of a plant in Athens, Georgia. Its showy orange blooms give the plant an almost tropical feel. 

Plant it in full sun and in moist, well-drained soil. It is a low-maintenance plant that tolerates heat and drought once established, is resistant to salt and deer, and grows quickly to fill a space. At maturity, it is 4 to 6 feet in height and 4 to 6 feet in width. The showy flowers appear from spring until fall and are attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. 

It makes an excellent addition to a cottage or pollinator garden, foundation planting, or shrub border. It may also be used for mass planting along rock walls or hillsides, and it even does well in containers on the patio. This plant does grow quickly and aggressively, however, so plan its location accordingly.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease problems, although whiteflies and spider mites can affect plants kept over the winter. In certain areas of the country with more tropical climates Lantana camera is weedy or even invasive. Leaves can cause minor skin irritation and unripe berries are poisonous if eaten. It is toxic to livestock such as cattle, sheep, horses, and goats. Has shown excellent resistance to phytophthora. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. 

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