Saturated greens, completely sprinkled with bright colors that change color - is lanthanum grown by a tree or a lush bush. It all depends on your imagination and skills of growing this plant.
Botanical description
Lantana is a perennial shrub of the verben family, which combines 150 species. This plant grows in the tropics of America, from where it was distributed to countries with a similar climate. 
If the conditions of existence are favorable, then lanthanum begins rapid reproduction. In temperate climates, the plant in winter completely freezes.
Popular type - lantana camara. In flower pots, the bush does not grow more than 50 cm in height, whereas in the natural environment the height of the bush reaches 150 cm. 
This species has upright tetrahedral spiny stems. Serrated leaves, oval-shaped, green. The flowers are quite small, collected in spherical inflorescences.
Freshen up the room interior with the help of clerodendrum, which, like lanthanum, belongs to the verbenum family.A characteristic feature of lantana is that its flowers change color as it grows. If the flower blooms yellow, then as it develops it becomes orange, and orange - dark red.
So in a certain period of growth on one bush, you can contemplate the riot of color. The flowering period is long - from May to August.
Important! The black berries of this plant are poisonous.
Very rarely on sale can you see another look - lantana montevidea. This species has flexible creeping shoots, therefore, it is possible to land this species in suspended pots. 
As it grows, the plant takes an ampel form. Inflorescences with a diameter of not more than 2 cm, in lilac-purple tones. Flowering time - from June to November. Thanks to the glands, which secrete essential substances, when you touch the leaves, a pleasant subtle aroma appears.
We advise you to get acquainted with which ampelous flowers can be grown at home.
Growing conditions
Lantana - a beautiful flowerthat can grow at home. For good growth, it needs good lighting, a warm place and protection from direct sun.
In the summer, bushes need to be taken out into the yard, while there is a build-up of green mass and, therefore, abundant flowering begins. 
Lantana feels great in the hot summer, only requires more frequent watering. In regions with mild winters, the plant can be grown outdoors.
Lighting
Scattered sunlight and direct sunlight for up to 5 hours is one of the conditions of abundant flowering.
Shadowing intolerance is also observed in amorphofallus, alissum, chlorophytum, petunia, gloxinia, ghazania, colony.Lantana is not good at shading, flowering becomes scarce and the foliage becomes shallow. In rooms, there is often a lack of natural light, so in winter it is better to provide a flower for a period of rest.
Did you know? Lantana is growing rapidly and replacing growing beside plants, therefore, its cultivation is prohibited by law in some countries (for example, in South Africa).
Temperature and humidity
The optimum air temperature for lanthanum - 22-27 ° C. In winter the temperature is lowered to 6 ° С to ensure a rest period. The plant easily transfers dry air in rooms with rare spraying. 
Spraying is forbidden during the flowering period, as the flowers wither quickly. In winter, the soil is kept slightly moist.
The soil
The flower is considered quite unpretentious, it can grow even on scarce soils. At home, to get a luxurious, pleasing to the eye the plant, it is best to use fertile light soil.
Composition, which can be prepared independently: 1 part of garden soil, leaf earth and coarse-grained river sand or perlite.
Peculiarities of home care
Since lanthanum is an unpretentious plant, then caring for it at home is no different from caring for other brothers. 
Light is importantAs mentioned above, the plant needs at least 5 sundials. The overmoistening of the soil is harmful, however, even with its strong drying, the lower leaves die off, which makes the plant not attractive.
Watering
For abundant flowering in the summer, the flower is watered every 3-5 days, and in the winter during dormancy - once every 2 weeks. Water should be at room temperature and must be separated.
Fertilizer
In the summer, lanthanum needs feeding 1 time in 2 weeks. Preference should be given to organic. 
Be sure to monitor the nitrogen content, because with its excess will grow green mass to the detriment of flowers. During flowering and strong growth of lanthanum fertilized with complex mineral fertilizer. Conduct such manipulations 1 time per month. In winter, during the dormant period, top dressing is not needed.
Pruning
Formation of the crown is very important for the plant. With the onset of spring, when everything around comes alive, be sure to pruning lantana. 
Pruning and subsequent nipping shoots provide an opportunity to get the perfect crown, and also creates the conditions for abundant flowering.
Faded buds need to be removed on time. By trimming the bush, you can give a different shape and shape it to the desired height.
Important! If lanthanum is formed as a stem, it will become more demanding for watering and feeding.
Transfer
This beauty must be replanted every 1-3 years due to the rapid growth of the roots. The best time is the middle of spring.
The pot needs to be picked up several centimeters more than the previous one. Flowering does not take place, but the root system will grow. At the bottom of the tank lay out the drainage (pebbles, expanded clay) to avoid stagnation of water and, accordingly, rotting of the roots. 
Drainage takes 1/3 of the capacity for planting. When transplanting remove part of the earthy coma, add new soil and nutrients for good growth. If the plant is very old, transplanting it is a lot of stress. In this case, if possible, change the topsoil to 1/3 of the pot.
How to multiply lanthanum
Lantana - unpretentious plant, propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Seeds sown in the spring in a pre-moistened soil under the film and maintain a temperature of 20 ° C. 
After an average of 14 days, friendly shoots appear. When the sprouts grow to 12 cm, it is necessary to pick a pick and lower the temperature to 15 ° C. This is done to avoid pulling seedlings.
It will be useful for you to learn how to make the backlight for seedlings at home.Cuttings form in early spring during the first pruning. Their length should be about 10 cm. Lower leaves are removed on the cuttings, the cut is moistened in a corneous solution, and placed in a wet mixture consisting of peat and sand, which are taken in the same proportion.
After that, each stalk is covered with cans. After 21 days, the shelter is removed, and a container with cuttings put on a bright window.Did you know? In India, lanthanum is called the "curse of planters" because of its violent growth.
Plant pests
The foliage of the shrub is periodically attacked by the following pests: aphid, scale insects, tick and whitefly. In open land, these pests are the most dangerous. For prevention, it is recommended to treat the bushes with Aktara or Actellic preparations every spring. 
Diseases and problems in growing
Lantana in a cool room with excessive watering suffers from leaf rust, even in this situation, root rot can develop.
It is necessary to change the conditions of plant maintenance in the winter: provide a period of rest, loosen the soil. If the flower is still sick, you need to prune the plant and process it with a fungicide.
As can be seen from the foregoing, the lanthanum flower is very beautiful and completely unpretentious in growing and caring. Therefore, everyone who sees a photo of this plant will immediately want to grow it in his own plot. With proper care of the plant, you will receive a reward - a luxurious bloom.
