What plant is Lantana camara? Let us introduce you to this woody plant

Other names for Lantana camara

Shandadan, Ruyi grass, five-color flower, five-thunder pellet, five-color hydrangea, color-changing grass, large red hydrangea

Growth habits of Lantana camara

It likes light and prefers a warm, humid climate. It has strong adaptability and tolerates drought and poor soil, but is not cold-tolerant, and grows better in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam. The flowering period is from June to October. It likes warm, humid, sunny places. It tolerates drought, slightly tolerates shade, and is not cold-tolerant. In the south it is basically cultivated in the open ground, while in the north it can be kept as a potted plant for ornamental display. It is not strict about soil quality, and grows best in fertile, loose sandy soil.

This species is a tropical plant that likes high temperature and high humidity, also tolerates dry heat, and has poor cold resistance; keep the temperature above 10°C and the leaves will not drop. It avoids ice and snow, has strong adaptability to soil, tolerates drought and waterlogging, and is not strict about fertility requirements.

Morphological characteristics of Lantana camara

Lantana camara is an evergreen shrub, 1 to 2 m tall, sometimes with branches growing in a vine-like manner. The stems and branches are square, with short soft hairs, usually with short hooked prickles. The leaves are simple and opposite, ovate or ovate-oblong, with a gradually pointed tip and a rounded base, rough and hairy on both sides, and giving off a strong odor when crushed; the flower heads are axillary on the upper part of the branch tips, with more than 20 flowers per flower head; the corolla tube is slender and the top is mostly five-lobed, resembling a plum blossom. The corolla color is variable: yellow, orange-yellow, pink, and deep red. The flowering period is relatively long; when planted in the open ground in the south it flowers almost all year round, while potted in Beijing the flower quantity is greatest in July to August. The fruit is a round berry, purple-black when ripe. The same genus has 150 species, 2 species have been introduced and cultivated in China, and there are multiple horticultural varieties. Trailing lantana is semi-vine-like, with rose-red flowers tinged with blue-purple. White lantana has mainly white flowers. Yellow lantana has mainly yellow flowers. 

Main values of Lantana camara

Ornamental: Lantana camara has beautiful flower colors, a long viewing period, green trees and abundant flowers, and is gorgeous all year round; it has strong resistance to dust and pollution. In South China it can be planted in parks and courtyards as flower hedges and flower clusters, and can also form green covering vegetation along both sides of roads and in open fields. Potted plants can be placed at the entrance, in the hall, in living rooms and other places for viewing, and can also be used to form flower beds.

Medicinal: For collection and processing, the root or the whole plant is used as medicine. It can be collected all year round, and used dried or fresh. Nature and flavor: root: bland, cool. Branches and leaves: bitter, cool, with a foul odor. Slightly toxic. Flowers: sweet, bland, cool. Effects. Root: clears heat and detoxifies, dissipates nodules and relieves pain. Branches and leaves: dispels wind and relieves itching, detoxifies and reduces swelling.

Flower language of Lantana camara

Cheerful, lively