Lantana New Gold thrives in September heat
LANTANA NEW GOLD is a summer annual that gives us a consistent sea of yellow, even in the heat of September. You see it in garden centers each year, and it has stood the test of time.
Unassuming on the shelves, this plant can look wiry or weedy in small pots so it would be easy to pass up for one of several more colorful lantanas. But if you have seen it shining like the sun on a hot and humid day in September, you will be like me and plant it every year.
Lantana New Gold is best grown in full sun and well-drained soils. It will bloom in light shade, but not to the extent it does in full sun. Once planted, it will slowly grow and the bloom will increase. When I don’t think it can get any hotter or more humid, I look out and lantana New Gold is stunning and in full, glorious bloom.
This compact lantana can grow approximately 1 foot tall and can spread 2 feet wide. Its flowers are sterile or almost fruitless, which aids in its profuse flowering—and is good because the seeds are considered poisonous to humans. The fragrant, young foliage can also cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction, so if your skin is sensitive, wear gloves and long sleeves when handling any lantana.
It is drought resistant once established, and deer rarely bother it. Lantana is attractive to pollinators and butterflies, particularly when planted in large groups. It is not uncommon to see several butterflies at any given time on my planting.
