Lantana camara Evita Red imp. - West Indian Lantana

Lantana 'Evita Red imp.', with its red and yellow bicoloured flower balls, is perhaps the most flamboyant variety in the 'Evita' series. This Lantana is also distinguished by its compact habit and floribundance, two assets that make it an excellent plant for decorating terraces and balconies. This shrub blooms tirelessly throughout the summer, on beautiful dark green foliage that undoubtedly enhances the vibrant colors of the flowering, which is visited by multicoloured butterflies. A frost-sensitive plant, Lantana camara is most often grown as an annual outside of our regions spared from heavy frosts.

Lantana camara, also known as Lantana or common Lantana, is a small shrub in the Verbenaceae family, related to Verbenas. Its origins are in a wide area including Mexico, Central America, the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, Colombia and Venezuela. It has naturalized in many subtropical regions where it is considered invasive. Not demanding regarding soil, water-efficient, extremely floriferous, this lantana has only one flaw: its lack of hardiness, down to about -6°C/-7°C (19.4°F) for short periods of time.

The 'Evita Red' cultivar is a horticultural selection chosen for its small size and brightly coloured flowering. Fast-growing, this well-branched shrub reaches about 40cm (16in) in all directions in one season. Its quadrangular section branches bear a few hooked spines and leaves 4 to 6cm (2in) long, leathery, rough and aromatic when crushed, with finely toothed margins. They are dark green, strongly veined, and theoretically persist in winter if there is no frost. Its particularly long flowering period extends from June-July to October. In the leaf axils, rounded bouquets or panicles of flowers, 4 to 5cm (2in) in diameter, emerge. The small tubular-based flowers gradually change from yellow to orange-red, creating an interesting bicolour effect within the bouquet between the centre flowers, a warm yellow, and those on the periphery, a reddish-orange turning to vermilion red.

Lantana camara 'Evita Red Imp.' likes sheltered, warm and sunny positions, it can overwinter outside in mild climates. Elsewhere, it is an excellent terrace plant that should be stored in a cold or temperate greenhouse, protected from heavy frosts during winter. While it is a spectacle on its own, this Lantana pairs well with the blue or white flowers of salvias, lavenders, garden Verbenas, and catmints. It is also a very good plant for a dry and waterless garden, when winters are mild.

Green plants from 4 to 8cm (2 to 3in) in plug plants of 5 small plugs, 2.8cm (1in) in diameter and 4cm (2in) high. Our plants are at least eight weeks old and strong enough to be planted in the ground.

Note: Please be aware that our young plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners. Upon receipt, transplant and store them in sheltered locations (conservatory, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14°C (57.2°F) for a few weeks before planting them outdoors once the risk of frost has definitively passed.