Lantana - how do I tell if it made it?

Last summer I planted Lantana in two large planters outside. Today I cut them back a bit because I read that they flower from the new growth.

They appear to be dead and the stems are all brown and brittle-throughout. Will new growth re-grow from the root system?

I'm just wondering if they didn't make it?

Hope someone has answers.
Thank you.

The info I'm finding on line says they're hardy to zone 8. While I imagine they are likely to survive the winter in your zone in the ground with some protection, they're not likely to survive in a container where the root ball is above the frost line. I've only ever grown them as annuals in my zone, so I can't be sure, but the brown interior of the stems makes me think they're probably dead.

I planted more than a dozen last year. The lantana are not hardy here (well....maybe the yellow Miss Huff 'may' make it) anyway...all the stems are brown and brittle so I cut them away last weekend. At a little below level ground (at base of the brittle limbs) on just a few of the plants ...I can see green sprouting. I am assuming (I am pretty sure) that this is the lantana. So, if I were you when you cut back and clean up ...check for the green growth.

This message was edited Mar 12, 2010 4:20 PM

There is a decent chance they didn't make it since I think you're a bit outside their hardiness range, but it's way too early in the season to give up on things yet. So I'd leave them alone for a few months and see if they sprout new growth from the base (even if they don't have any new growth now, that doesn't mean that they might not sprout up again in a month or two).

Hmm.. I didn't realize I was outside of their hardiness zone. Thank you for all of your imput and experience. Maybe I will stick them somewhere in the ground to see if they will come back since they are a late summer bloomer? I'd really like to have something to show off in the planters sooner rather than waiting to see if they survived LOL so will probably plant something new and pretty in the planters.

Thanks again.

I hadn't noticed at first that you said they were in a planter rather than in the ground...it still wouldn't hurt to give them a chance, but being in a container tends to reduce the hardiness a bit since the roots aren't as well insulated as they would be in the ground. So with that plus your zone being borderline anyway I don't how good your chances are. It's still worth giving them a chance to come back...sometimes plants will surprise you! If they are still alive, putting them in the ground will help give them a better chance next winter.

You ought to know pretty soon if they made it. I am in a cooler area than you and as I mentioned I can see some growth on a few (very few but more than I expected to make it) Here, I have bloom a lot earlier than late summer and they go right until frost. I buy plants maybe 5 -6 inches high as soon as frost over...and for sure by midsummer they are up and running ...growing and blooming. But if you want a spring bloom and color from spring to fall - you may want to replace.

You all are so helpful. It is great to have such fantastic resources ^_^

I'm pretty sure the plants didn't make it because they are brittle all the way down to the root system & it doesn't look alive either. I threw seeds in the pots so hopefully I will have some new sprouts of mixed flowers coming up.

There is a native Lantana that I think is hardy to zone 7 but I'll have to look into that.

Thank you for all of your help.

Last summer I put a Homestead Lantana in a pot on my front porch (south facing). I left the pot on the porch all winter. It died all the way back during the winter which for us was an unusually cold one this year (we even had five inches of snow). However, late last month it started putting new growth out from the roots. Yours might surprise you too.

Don't give up just yet... I am on the cusp of zones 7b and 8a and have grown lantanas for years. It's still a little early for them, especially since we had a true winter and spring is slow in arriving. I would prune it back to the dirt, continue to water and make sure they are getting direct sun. I think we just need a little more warm weather before they come up from the roots.
Good Luck!

I'm with Nia. Mine handle our winter's fine, but my experience is that they tend to be a little late in coming back. Being in a pot may have let the roots get too cold, but I'd wait and see.

I have cut them all the way down to the ground and hoping for the best.

We have had an real winter here in NE Tx!
Nia, I'm also on the border of 7b/8a... but I think this is a micro-climate here because I can drive a mile down the road, and things are blooming, usually 2 weeks to a month ahead of me!!

But I'm not complaining because we stay a little cooler and less humid during the summer!

Thank you all again. I'll post if my Lantana comes up...

Well, don't know about you, but I sure am glad my lantana is still hiding....
It's the first full day of spring and it's snowing.
What a strange winter we have had in NE Texas.

LOL! ^_^

Yes, it's still snowing right now here too. It's been snowing all day.

I'm zone 8 and I have a lantana (Miss Huff) in my yard. Be patient because my did not show any life until May.

Just wanted to share, the lantanas that I have planted on the south side of structures have tiny green leaves coming up from the roots. Of the 8 that are out in the open, two have started showing growth. I am still hopeful for the other 6.

That being said, it looks like I lost my passion flower and the plumbagos aren't showing any signs of life, but they are usually a little later than most.

Any luck with yours, yet?

No signs of green on the lantanas yet! But the hickories are all blooming now, a sure sign that spring is here to stay!

The native Passion flowers that grow here haven't sprouted yet, but they don't usually start showing up until sometime in May.

I had Lantana planted this spring but nothing has sprouted yet - just sticks still - I live in Colleyville, TX (near DFW airport) and am wondering if anyone around here has seen their Lantana start to sprout?

Nothing here.

My lantana has started showing life in the past couple of weeks.