Most of these lantanas were planted when the house was built about 18 years ago. Even though they didn't come with tags I'm pretty sure they are New Gold Lantana as they bloom profusely and do not produce berries. They take all the heat the south facing driveway throws at them and then some.
These lantana are also huge. The largest two at opposite ends of the island bed are 68" and 72" diameter which is about twice the mature size listed on the label.
Over in the hellstrip by the mailbox, red autumn sages (Salvia greggii) were planted here back in 1996. About three years ago I added this red lantana. It's a color match for both the red salvia greggii and the gold lantana. The ladder you see is for my husband who was on the roof installing sun shades on the clerestory windows. I always stay outside when he's on a ladder or the roof. I spent the time enjoying all this color.
Existing Salvia greggii was divided and planted in the new bed along the street. The gold here is Four-nerve daisy because it blooms through the winter while lantana dies back. We still need to mulch here and that will be completed soon.
It's all tied together with Color Guard yucca and Golden Barrel cactus (Echinocactus grunsonii) like these by the power pole and street sign on the opposite side of the yard. Extra credit if you notice the similarities in my neighbor's landscape. Love it when that happens!
We're ready for summer here as these hot colors will hold their own throughout the hot summer.
You just can't beat lantana!! I have planted a flower bed of it at my mom's and look forward to 'checking' in on it this weekend. Love this red variety.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Carla, looks like you're in for a fun adventure in West Texas over the next few months. Lantana is not only cheery and colorful, it's easy to grow.
DeleteYour landscape is so different from mine. I really enjoy (virtually) walking through your gardens.
ReplyDeleteThat's the fun part of blogging we get to visit gardens around the world. Soon my garden will be mostly dormant from the heat and beautiful gardens like yours in Michigan will be my daily treat.
DeleteA popular burger-beer pub here in town planted some of the bushy Lantana camara at their parking lot entrance, and voila...suddenly it's getting planted by the masses, whose leaders said, "that won't grow here". And the rest of Jardin R.O.D. is looking nice and healthy!
ReplyDeleteIf it survives your cold then Lantana camara can live through anything, we have stands of it around here that thrive without any care or supplemental water.
DeleteThis is the third year for most plants so the landscaping is really looking mature.
Shirley everything is looking wonderful! The color play in the third picture is wonderful and of course all those plants in the last photo are favs...
ReplyDeleteI'm growing Lantana for the first time this year. We have to grow it in pots and keep it under cover in the winter.
ReplyDeleteThe established ones have survived record lows of 14F/8C and even snow so if you can get them going they might do okay.
DeleteI love those lantana.
ReplyDeleteThere was one here...not doing too well...when we moved in.
When we redid the Island Bed, I moved it and planted another one. Both are blooming, but have a long way to go until they're the size of yours.
Your whole garden is looking good.
Thank you Linda, I'll have to give credit to the landscapers hired by the original owner who was also the builder.
DeleteLooks like you are setting the tone...I'll bet it telescopes throughout the neighborhood soon. After all, why argue with this kind of success?
ReplyDeleteThere were already a lot of similar gardens in the neighborhood and after the recent two year drought there have been even more changes. I took some of my inspiration from neighbors too!
DeleteYou really have a wonderful front yard, so much texture and color too. Lantana, an annual for us, really is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThank you Donna. Lantana often gets dismissed by the pros as "overused" and "common". I say there's a reason certain plants are commonly used and it's because they work in our difficult climate.
DeleteUnfortunately Lantana is listed as an environmental weed here. There's so much of it growing in the surrounding bushland and taking over from the natives, that it's something we actively try to remove. It's a never ending job though as Lantana is one tough customer.
ReplyDeleteI have read quite a bit about the invasive lantana in Australia. It does sound like a serious problem there. The New Gold Lantana does not appear to be invasive here. The same cannot be said for the lantana camara since I have pulled several out of our creek. We also have a native lantana that is not invasive.
DeleteHi Shirley, your garden looks incredible. I just got so many great ideas from this post!!!!!! I was thinking of you yesterday when I was in SALE-land. The Garden Center on Bandera road has all Monrovia at 40% - they said at least through this weekend. A lot of it looks SAD...REALLY sad, but a lot looks good too. Aloe dorotheae, spanish varigated dagger, thread agave, artichoke agave, etc etc....among a lot of other things you likely will not want to plant right though now like olive trees....etc etc etc. Just thought I would pass that along to you....I know from your blog you love cacti. Cheers!
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