Lantana (Lantana camara 'Balucgold' LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD)
Achieve low-maintenance, season-long color with Lantana camara 'Balucgold' LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD. This dwarf Lantana thrives in full sun.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Lantana camara ‘Balucgold’ LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD is a fantastic, floriferous dwarf selection valued for its robust, dense growth habit and exceptionally long blooming season, extending from spring right up to the first hard frost. This specific variety of Lantana puts on a spectacular display of golden yellow flowers held in attractive, rounded clusters, making it a perfect solution for gardeners needing reliable, low-effort summer color. As a sun-loving plant, Lantana ensures your landscape or containers remain vibrant throughout the hottest months without demanding constant attention.
This compact cultivar fits beautifully into smaller garden spaces or decorative containers, providing a significant visual impact despite its modest size, usually topping out near one foot tall and wide. The generic term Lantana refers to a versatile group of plants, but this selection, often sold as LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD, offers consistent dwarf performance suitable for bedding displays across various zones. For gardeners seeking drought-tolerant beauty that attracts pollinators, this Lantana is an indispensable choice.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Verbenaceae
- Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-11
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.75-1 ft
- Spread: 0.75-1 ft
- Bloom Time: May to frost
- Bloom Description: Golden yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Lantana camara ‘Balucgold’ LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD after all danger of frost has passed, positioning it where it receives full sun all day for the best bloom production. This species thrives in average, well-drained soils with medium moisture, though it demonstrates a tolerance for poorer soil conditions once established. Good drainage is critical to success, preventing root rot, especially in container settings.
Water established plants moderately; they prefer consistent moisture but should not remain soggy. Due to their low-maintenance nature, heavy fertilization is often unnecessary, though a balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied at planting can support heavy blooming. Routinely deadheading is usually not required for this floriferous dwarf, as the spent blooms often drop cleanly, maintaining good appearance throughout the season.
For gardeners in northern climates (below Zone 10), treat Lantana camara ‘Balucgold’ LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD as an annual bedding plant since top growth is only winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-11 (roots hardy to Zone 9). Alternatively, container plants can be successfully overwintered indoors if provided a bright location and kept cool, ideally between 40-49°F. While gardeners frequently purchase new bedding plants each spring, cuttings taken in summer offer a way to preserve favorite selections of Lantana.
Landscape Uses
The dwarf nature of Lantana camara ‘Balucgold’ LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD makes it an excellent candidate for use as an annual bedding plant, providing consistent, vibrant ground cover or edging along sidewalks and borders. Its robust, dense habit is equally well-suited for containers, window boxes, or hanging baskets where its cascading tendencies can be allowed to flow over the edges. Training container plants as standards is another creative way to utilize this versatile Lantana.
Because this variety offers continuous golden color, it pairs beautifully with plants that provide textural contrast or cooler complementary colors, such as silvery foliage plants or deep purple annuals. When planting in the ground, ensure the companion plants share the requirement for high sun exposure and well-drained soil. The reliable flowering performance of this Lantana ensures it serves as a vibrant focal point anywhere in the summer garden.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lantana camara, commonly called lantana or shrub verbena, is native to Central and South America, developing into an upright, frost-tender shrub in tropical climates. ‘Balucgold’ is a notably floriferous, dwarf selection of lantana that features a dense, bushy growth habit and the desired long bloom period from spring to frost. The small, tubular, golden yellow flowers are held in attractive, rounded to globe-shaped clusters, often sold commercially under the name LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD. Its aromatic leaves and flowers are known attractions for desirable pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
This Lantana variety generally boasts a low-maintenance profile, showing no reports of serious insect or disease problems under ideal conditions. However, when overwintering plants indoors or under stress, gardeners should monitor closely for common indoor pests like whiteflies and spider mites. Ensure good air circulation, especially when bringing plants inside for winter dormancy to help mitigate both pest issues and potential fungal growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Lantana suitable for?
Lantana camara ‘Balucgold’ LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD is top growth winter hardy only in USDA Zones 10 and 11, though its roots can sometimes survive down to Zone 9 if heavily mulched.
How large does Lantana camara ‘Balucgold’ LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD grow?
This dwarf selection typically achieves a mature height and spread between 0.75 and 1 foot tall and wide, maintaining a compact, bushy shape.
What sun exposure does Lantana need?
For optimal flowering and strong growth, Lantana camara ‘Balucgold’ LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD requires full sun exposure throughout the day.
When does Lantana bloom?
This specific Lantana variety provides continuous color, blooming reliably from May until the first hard frost of the season with bright golden yellow flowers.
Conclusion
The compact structure and relentless golden bloom of Lantana camara ‘Balucgold’ LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD make it an essential, low-effort annual for seasonal color programs or permanent planting in warmer regions. By providing full sun and avoiding overly wet soil, you can ensure this Lantana provides weeks of enjoyment. Check your local growing zone compatibility or plan on overwintering container specimens to enjoy the benefits of this wonderful plant year after year.
Wildlife Benefits
The dense clusters of small flowers on Lantana camara ‘Balucgold’ LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD are highly attractive to a wide range of beneficial insects. Gardeners seeking to boost local biodiversity should utilize this plant specifically to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Its nectar-rich blossoms provide a consistent fuel source throughout the long season, increasing pollinator activity in surrounding plantings.
Container Growing
Growing Lantana in containers is an excellent strategy, especially in areas outside of Zones 10-11, as it facilitates easy overwintering indoors. Use a high-quality, fast-draining potting mix appropriate for sun-loving annuals. Because container plants dry out faster than those in the ground, monitor the ‘Medium’ water needs closely during peak summer heat. Limit the use of high-nitrogen fertilizers, focusing instead on those formulated for flowering annuals to encourage more blooms rather than excess foliage growth on your LITTLE LUCKY POT OF GOLD.
