Christine Lantana

Plant Type: perennial
Plant Height: 1-3 feet
Spread: 1-3 feet
Flower Color: yellow, pink and orange
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Christine Lantana – Vibrant, Pollinator-Friendly Perennial for Phoenix Valley Gardens

Add dynamic color and life to your Phoenix Valley landscape with Christine Lantana, a resilient and eye-catching perennial shrub. Known for its multicolored blooms and low maintenance needs, Christine Lantana is a favorite choice for Arizona gardeners seeking long-lasting color, drought tolerance, and a plant that attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. A standout member of the Verbenaceae family, this shrub is perfect for creating vibrant borders, container displays, and lush butterfly gardens.

Key Features of Christine Lantana

Christine Lantana stands out for its small but abundant flowers that form clusters, gradually changing color from yellow to pink and orange. This color-shifting effect adds a unique, ever-changing element to any garden. With continuous blooming in warm climates, especially during the summer months, Christine Lantana provides Phoenix landscapes with months of vibrant display.

The foliage of Christine Lantana is equally appealing, with small, textured green leaves that emit a pleasant fragrance when crushed. This dense, bushy backdrop complements the multicolored blooms, adding both visual depth and an aromatic quality to your garden.

Benefits for Phoenix Valley Gardens

Christine Lantana is ideal for the Phoenix Valley climate, tolerating full sun and thriving in well-drained soil. Once established, this drought-resistant plant requires minimal watering, making it a perfect choice for xeriscaping and water-wise gardening. Its adaptability to Arizona’s hot summers and minimal care needs make it a must-have for eco-conscious gardeners who want an eye-catching plant without high water demands.

In addition to its resilience, Christine Lantana is a pollinator magnet, attracting butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects that enrich your garden and support local ecosystems. Its colorful, ever-changing blooms offer a feast for pollinators, adding ecological value to its ornamental appeal.

Popular Landscaping Uses in Arizona

• Border and Front-of-Border Planting: Christine Lantana’s compact, mounding growth makes it ideal for front borders, where it brings a splash of color and texture to the landscape.
• Ground Cover for Sunny Spots: The dense, spreading growth helps cover bare patches in sunny areas, offering vibrant color that thrives in intense Phoenix sunlight.
• Container Gardens: Christine Lantana is a favorite for container gardening, where it can brighten up patios, balconies, and entryways with its vivid blooms and compact size.
• Butterfly and Pollinator Gardens: With its colorful blooms and pollinator-friendly properties, Christine Lantana adds both beauty and ecological value to butterfly gardens and pollinator habitats.

Care Tips for Thriving Growth in Phoenix Valley

Christine Lantana flourishes with full sun exposure, and it’s best planted in well-drained soil to avoid water retention issues. Once established, this perennial requires only occasional watering, thriving on low water inputs and making it highly suitable for Phoenix’s arid climate. For optimal growth and a compact shape, prune Christine Lantana in late winter or early spring to encourage dense foliage and more vigorous blooming.

Why Choose Christine Lantana for Your Phoenix Landscape?

Christine Lantana is more than just a beautiful addition to your Arizona garden; it’s a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that enhances outdoor spaces with minimal effort. Its changing bloom colors and fragrant foliage make it a unique, sensory experience in any landscape, while its attraction to pollinators supports local biodiversity. Whether you're looking to add color to borders, fill container gardens, or create a haven for butterflies, Christine Lantana is a versatile, low-maintenance choice tailored to the needs of Phoenix Valley gardeners.

Three Timbers Installation Guide (Feel Free to Follow): Christine Lantana

Planting Guide:

• Location: Full sun to partial shade (at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily for optimal blooming)
• Soil: Well-drained, loamy or sandy soil (slightly acidic to neutral soil preferred)
• Spacing: Space plants 2-3 feet apart for optimal growth and air circulation
• Planting Depth: Plant at the same depth as the root ball, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil surface
• Support: Christine Lantana grows as a compact shrub and generally does not require staking

Watering Guide:

Watering After Planting:

• Initial Watering: Water thoroughly immediately after planting to saturate the root ball and surrounding soil
• Frequency: Water every 2-3 days for the first 2-3 weeks to help establish the root system
• Watering Amount: Provide 1 inch of water per session to ensure deep watering around the roots

When is the Plant Established?

• Timeframe: Christine Lantana is considered established after 2-3 months when the roots have spread into the surrounding soil and the plant begins showing consistent new growth

Watering Once Established:

• Summer: Water every 7-10 days during the hotter months. If temperatures exceed 100°F, increase watering to every 5-7 days. Provide 1.5-2 inches of water per session.
• Winter: Water every 3-4 weeks during the cooler months, depending on rainfall.

Drip Irrigation Setup:

• Placement of Emitters: Place the drip emitters 12-18 inches away from the base of the plant
• Flow Rate: Use emitters with a flow rate of 1-2 gallons per hour
• Number of Emitters: 1 emitter per plant for even water distribution
• Adjusting Frequency: In summer, increase watering frequency to every 5-7 days. In winter, reduce watering to every 3-4 weeks