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Lantana camara 'Spreading Sunset'
| Family Name: | Verbenaceae |
| Synonyms: | Lantana camara 'Radiation' |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Rounded, Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 0.6 m to 0.9 m |
Biogeography
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
|---|---|
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Evergreen shrub with a mounding or spreading growth habit. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Opposite leaves are narrowly ovate to ovate with serrate leaf margin (2.5 cm long). Leaves are deeply veined with a rugose surface that is covered in rough, irritating hairs. |
| Flowers | Salverform, fragrant flowers are bright orange to red, later fading to pink. Flowers are arranged in rounded clusters known as umbels (2.5 - 3.8 cm wide). Plants are free flowering in the tropics. |
| Fruit | This cultivar produces fleshy, pitted fruits known as drupes. They are initially bluish green and then darken to purplish black. The seeds are typically not viable, because 95% of its pollen is sterile. |
| Cultivation | This cultivar is easy-to-grow and and has a moderate growth rate. It can grow in a wide variety of soil types from acidic to alkaline (pH 4.5 - 8.5) and sandy to clay loam. However, it will grow best in fertile, well-draining soil that is kept moist. It will flower best under full sun. The green, unripe fruits are toxic upon ingestion, so it is best to prevent fruiting by promptly removing spent flowers. To promote bushy growth, remove the growing tips by pinching them off. This cultivar can grow aggressively, so restrain its growth with regular pruning or pot it in a large container. Potted plants will flower better if they are allowed to become slightly rootbound. If whiteflies become a problem, spray the upper and lower leaf surfaces with a pesticide containing neem or pyrethrum. It is also susceptible to scale insects and leaf chewing insects. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | This cultivar is planted for its abundant, brightly coloured flowers. It is often planted in flower beds or as a border. Consider using this mounding cultivar in a mixed planting with erect and trailing Lantana cultivars. It is ideal for butterfly gardens as a nectar plant. This cultivar is an excellent choice for water-conscious gardeners, as it is highly drought tolerant. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers) |
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting, General, Flowerbed / Border, Coastal |
| Thematic Landscaping | Butterfly Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Toxic Upon Ingestion |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | The green, unripe fruits are toxic upon ingestion, while consumption of leaves may cause liver damage in dogs. Touching the leaves may irritate the skin. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth)) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Easy to Grow, Drought Tolerant, Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils, Alkaline high pH Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Low |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute, Raised / Sunken Veins |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
| Typical Foliar Area | Microphyll ( 2.25cm2 - 20.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Orange, Pink, Red |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Individual Flower Shape | Salverform |
| Inflorescence Type | Umbel |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 889 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2183 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
