Two of my front yard flower beds have Pineland Lantana (Lantana depressa)
shrubs bordering them. There are three
other species: Lantana camara (an aggressive and invasive plant), Lantana
involucrata and Lantana depressa var. sanibelensis. This species – Lantana depressa – is the one
most often planted in residential areas.
My plants have beautiful yellow flowers almost all year round. They also have some shiny black berry like
fruit, which at first I found alarming – thinking there was something attacking
the flowers. The birds enjoyed this fruit.
Pineland Lantana is fairly slow growing, but can be trimmed to keep a
tidy appearance in the Fall or Winter when there are fewer flowers. The butterflies love visiting these flowers –
I see them flitting around there frequently, when looking out my office window.
I’ve also watched as a crow, being
chased by six mockingbirds, finally released the baby mockingbird it had
kidnapped. The baby bird hopped to
the Pineland Lantana for cover.
This native shrub is one of the lower maintenance, flowering plants in my
yard.
RESOURCES:
https://www.fnai.org/FieldGuide/pdf/Lantana_depressa_var_depressa.pdf
https://www.fnps.org/plants/plant/lantana-depressa-var-depressa
October 2018 Pineland Lantana border with Wild Lime Tree & Muhly Grass
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