I went out and took a look at some of my lantana plants, see how they're doing in this winter weather. They look very dead, though I know they'll spring back to life soon. My question is can I cut them back now, take off the scraggily branches that are enroaching on the sidewalk? Or should I wait until early spring?
What about the long stringy branches that extend beyond the greenery on my salvias? Can that be cut off now, or should I wait?
Thanks.
-Fleemo
If you live where I live you would clean them up, but not too hard of a prune. It was 84 degrees beginning of this week, then it was no warmer than 33 the following day, now it's back to normal into the 60s. So, if I cut hard now, it could encourage growth which will be damaged. If the lantana stems are brown through and through, you can cut them back. I forget where you are. Salvia can all be pruned back, but the same applies to any stems which can be green. You can encourage new growth by pruning now and leaving yourself open to damage if a real cold snap arrives.
V
If you are talking about Miss Huff lantana I don't believe you can hurt it by cutting it back. I removed the trash several winters and it grew back strong. (So thick it grew almost 8' tall last year.) I did have a few other varieties that weren't so cold tolerant and I lost a few of those plants. One was purchased as Dallas Red, another was similar (I don't know which is which.) and another had a varigated leaf with yellow flowers, you might want to be more careful with those if you have them.
Regards,
Hal Zone 8 Middle Georgia
Here in Zone 7B (North Carolina) it is recommended that Miss Huff not be cut back until spring. Seems that water getting into the cut branches may go down to the root system and freeze the stock. I've had a Miss Huff for four years but never cut it back until spring based on that recommendation. Since we're expecting to see some cold weather (
The 'Dallas Red' didn't do well for you? I bought several of them and I didn't get much production from them the first year. I'm hoping for a better stand this coming season. I don't like reds, but butterflies and hummers do. I also have the variegated variety you mentioned. I have it in the greenhouse. That is one beautiful plant. I had it in a container with Ipomoea 'Blackie' and that was beautiful all summer long. It's still blooming in the g-house.
I thought the varigated plant was interesting too, but I didn't replace them after they died from the cold. I want plants I don't have to work so hard keeping them alive. I like the reds because they are smaller than Miss Huff and I can put them in smaller beds without doing much work on them, but the butterflies don't seem to notice the difference in color they go to both reds and Miss Huff quite well. I have a swing between the beds and enjoy both during the warm weather.
Regards,
Hal
Lavendar and "Butter and Eggs" (red or pink plus yellow() seem unstoppable in zone 9. I don't know what's the cutoff point for Lantana as an outdoor perennial, but these two have almost attained the vigor of weeds. zemedelec
So, the reds did well, then? As for the variegated, It survived the winter last year, but this spring I moved it into a container. It took a minute to put it into the greenhouse, so not much work. In the spring I am going to propagate cuttings and sell them. It's a beautiful plant.
V
Dallas, Zone 7a is about the cut off point for lantana as a perennial.
It is a beautiful plant and I hope your efforts pay off. They are an eye catcher and it wasn't unusual to have someone ask about them when I had a couple in the front yard bed. They didn't come back after the second winter and I replaced them with about 4x4 Encore azaleas. The azaleas stay green all year and don't have to be cut back.
Regards,
Hal
Azaleas don't grow in this part of the world. I mean, people insist and change out entire beds of soil to a depth of 3 feet down. Not something I'm willing to do. Not when I have other great native plants. V
I wouldn't do that either! Lantana isn't exactly native, but it sure attracts butterflies and serves well throughout the summer. I tried several annuals but they wouldn't make it the full season and I'm not doing a second planting. Encores bloom three times a year and grow well in my area, even though they don't get as much butterfly and hummingbird traffic they stay green in winter and work well for me.
I have a friend that has blue anise sage that is an aggressive grower for his wife, but I can't seem to get it to grow well for me. I tried it in a part sun bed and a full sun bed, but it doesn't seem happy either place. Does it need a wet spot?
Regards,
Hal
Lantana is native to where I live.
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