Lantana seeds have a naturally tough outer seed coat, which causes them to germinate slowly and irregularly, often taking anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. To speed up germination, soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours prior to planting and keep the soil warm using a heat mat.

Lantana is a tender perennial native to tropical regions. In USDA Hardiness Zones 9–11, it will grow as a long-lived perennial, returning every year. In colder regions (Zones 8 and below), it is typically grown as a warm-season annual or overwintered indoors in containers.

Yes, all parts of the Lantana plant—especially the unripe green berries—contain toxins called pentacyclic triterpenoids, which are toxic to dogs, cats, livestock, and children if ingested. Keep plants out of reach of curious pets.

Deadheading (removing spent flowers and forming green seed pods) encourages the plant to produce continuous new blooms all season long. Avoid over-fertilizing with high-nitrogen fertilizers, as this promotes foliage growth over flower production.