Lantana Urticoides Seeds for Texas Lantana, Calico Bush and West Indian Shrubverbena Ornamental Flowering Plants

Even in the worst heat of the summer, Lantana urticoides (Texas Lantana) is a spectacular deciduous shrub. It forms a large, bushy mound of broadly ovate, rough-to-the-touch, toothed leaves that are 2 inches (5 cm) long. Blooming over a long season from mid-spring to fall, the shrub is literally covered with colorful tubular flowers held in dense, rounded clusters. The blossoms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects, and their color turns from yellow to orange to red as they mature. After the blooms, the shrub produces round, fleshy, deep purple-black berries that are poisonous to most mammals (and humans) but are relished by birds.

Texas Lantana is a deciduous plant, dropping its leaves in the winter and exposing its stems of light gray, flaking bark. The wrinkled leaves are aromatic (pungent scent) when bruised. This tough, resilient plant is valued for its long blooming season and its resistance to drought, heat, deer, and salt, making it a fine choice as a shrubby ground cover in dry, poor soil.

To grow Texas Lantana, simply plant the seed in a sterile commercial soil mix formulated for starting seed, covering the seed lightly with the planting mix. You should keep the soil damp but not wet while waiting for germination to take place. The best time to plant is in late winter to spring. Texas Lantana grows up to 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) tall and 4-6 feet (120-180 cm) wide, making it a great choice for beds and borders, cottage gardens, coastal gardens, Mediterranean gardens, or in native plant gardens.

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