This is the kind of lantana I remember from my Mom’s garden. It was a big, stinky bush on the south side of the house where it got full sun. I remember the smell more than anything because it always seemed like my baseball would wind up underneath it. They call this plant lantana horrida because of the smell. Actually I rather like the smell, myself. Maybe just because of the associations.
It’s taken this plant several years to get to be a big bush. I’ve tried growing it before but it never lasted more than a season. Those may have been a different variety.
Comments (8)
Actually I believe this is Lantana camara instead of horrida, but it still has a strong smell.
I love these flowers too–the big, native lantanas. I don’t care much for the sprawling yellow lantana so prevalent around here. Yours is a pretty variety. I also like red ‘Irene’.
My Grandmother in Houston used to grow Lantana like that - thanks for the memories!
Love your site and photos!
Dear B.,
Enjoyed your lantana post. A biggie is blooming behind our garage.
Today I cited and linked to your earlier vitex post today — vitex now blooming in Austin.
http://www.humanflowerproject.com/index.php/weblog/the_vitex_queen/
If you’d care to weigh in on the libido issue, please do!
All good wishes,
J.
I’ve gone to planting more Lantana on our patio. Strangely, in West Texas, we have too much shade in our yard for most flowering plants. Except, on the Mexican tile patio where the sun is good but it cooks most flowers. Lantana is someting that thrives in this environment.
I love lantana..*alas* I always have to plant itevery year…That stinky smell is adored by my hummingbirds..I usually try to get some called Hot Country and it is red…gorgeous..I buy, when I can find it, the kind in your picture under confetti..
I do not like the yellow wandering kind either…I have had very good luck with the weeping lavender lantana…and the hummers love it too….it seems a little fragile compared to the other..I just have a hard time finding it..It would be magnificent to have a bush and not have to replant!! I have to keep my hummers happy!!! Keep posting these great pictures!
http://www.floridata.com/ref/l/lant_c.cfm
And yet another name…
I, too, love lantana. When we lived in Houston I had to trim back a huge lantana BUSH that was right outside the back door.
Your photos are beautiful. Your blog makes me miss Texas. (new to NYC). Maybe you need to be on my blogroll.
Cheers.