What to Plant with Lantana in a Container

Lantana is a popular tropical flower known for its colorful clusters of blooms that appear nearly nonstop from spring through fall This versatility makes it an ideal plant for containers and hanging baskets. When pairing lantana with companion plants, choose ones with similar growing needs that complement its flowers, foliage and habit. With the right combination of plants, your container of lantana will be stunning!

Choosing Container Companions

When selecting companion plants for lantana containers, consider the following criteria:

Sun Exposure – Lantana thrives in full sun, so choose sun-loving companions like angelonia, petunia and calibrachoa. Provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Soil Drainage – Good drainage is key so use containers with holes and a well-draining potting mix. Combine with plants that tolerate dry soil like verbena and sweet potato vine.

Watering Needs – Lantana and its companions will need frequent watering to look their best. Check soil daily and water when the top inch is dry.

Flowering Times – For continuous color, pair early bloomers like petunias with late bloomers like angelonia.

Colors and Textures – Complement lantana’s flowers by combining colors and textures. Upright flowers paired with trailing foliage offer nice contrast.

Plant Heights – Choose plants of varying heights, including thrillers, fillers and spillers. This creates dimension.

Top Companion Plant Picks

Here are some excellent options for planting with lantana:

Angelonia – The upright spikes provide height and contrast to lantana’s spreading habit. Choose angelonia in purple, blue, pink or white.

Calibrachoa – Also called million bells, this trailing plant has abundant petite blooms. Try Superbells calibrachoa in coral, red or yellow.

Nemesia – The mounding shape and colorful flowers complement lantana nicely. Pick a variety like Sunsatia nemesia in lemon, orange or pink.

Petunia – Rounded, velvety flowers bloom abundantly in many colors. Try Supertunia Vista Bubblegum pink petunia.

Sweet Potato Vine – Trailing vines offer excellent spillers. Choose a variety like Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Lime green sweet potato vine.

Verbena – Clusters of tiny flowers add vivid color. Superbena Royale Peachy Keen verbena has orange-peach blooms.

Thriller, Filler, Spiller Combinations

Follow the classic thriller, filler, spiller formula when planting lantana containers:

Thrillers – Plant an upright plant like canna lily or ornamental grass in the center for height.

Fillers – Use lantana to fill in around the thriller. Other fillers can include angelonia, coleus or pentas.

Spillers – Trailing plants like calibrachoa, ivy and sweet potato vine spill over the edges.

Some examples:

• Canna lily thriller, lantana and angelonia fillers, sweet potato vine spiller
• Ornamental grass thriller, lantana and verbena fillers, calibrachoa spiller

Complementary Color Schemes

Select companion plants with flower colors that complement lantana’s wide range of hues:

• Red lantana with blue angelonia and yellow marigolds
• Lavender lantana with purple angelonia and pink petunias
• Orange lantana with blue bacopa and yellow bidens
• Multicolor lantana with red salvia and purple verbena

Care Tips

• Plant in containers with drainage holes, using a commercial potting mix.

• Place containers in full sun. Rotate occasionally for even sun exposure.

• Water when the top 1 inch of soil is dry. Check soil daily.

• Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

• Prune or pinch back leggy growth to encourage bushiness.

• Watch for pests like aphids, whiteflies and spider mites.

With the right selection and care of companion plants, your container of lantana will be thriving and gorgeous all season! Experiment with exciting combinations for stunning displays.