Lantana (Lantana camara 'Flortanapi' LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK)
Dwarf Lantana camara 'Flortanapi' LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK offers continuous, low-maintenance blooms in zones 10-11. Ideal annual bedding plant.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Lantana camara ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK is a prized, floriferous dwarf selection of Lantana, prized for its exceptionally long bloom period extending from May until the first frost signals its end. This compact variety maintains a dense, bushy habit, making it perfect for smaller spaces and container displays where traditional Lantana might overwhelm. The vibrant flowerheads provide continuous color, attracting essential pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden throughout the warm season.
As a tropical native, this Lantana variety offers significant aesthetic value as an annual bedding plant in most climates, though it thrives as a broadleaf evergreen where temperatures remain consistently mild. Gardeners appreciate the low maintenance requirements of Lantana, which happily tolerates poorer soils while demanding only medium water. Utilizing Lantana camara ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK ensures a reliable splash of hot pink, yellow, and orange color, providing high visual impact with minimal effort.
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: Yellow, orange, and bright pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Lantana camara ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK after all danger of frost has passed, ensuring it receives full sun exposure for the most prolific blooming. Optimal soil conditions involve average moisture and excellent drainage; this plant tolerates poorer soils well, reducing the need for excessive amendment or fertilization. When initially establishing bedding plants, ensure consistent medium watering until the root system is developed.
Maintenance for this dwarf selection is generally low throughout the season. Avoid over-fertilizing, which encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers. While top growth is killed by hard frosts, in USDA Zones 10-11, the roots may survive down to Zone 9. Gardeners in cooler regions often treat Lantana camara ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK as an annual bedding plant, replacing them each spring due to the established ease and low cost.
For gardeners intending to overwinter container specimens, provide bright light indoors and keep the location cool, ideally between 40-49°F. If you wish to save favorite plants, summer cuttings can be rooted and then overwintered, as growing cultivars true-to-type from seed is unreliable. Container plants also respond well to training as small standards for an elevated look.
Landscape Uses
The compact and bushy nature of Lantana camara ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK makes it exceptionally versatile in the landscape design palette. It serves ideally as a colorful edging element along borders or pathways where its low, mounding habit won’t obstruct views. Its vibrant, multi-hued flowers guarantee success in mixed container arrangements, pairing well with upright foliage plants or cascading petunias.
When used in mixed groupings, this selection of Lantana acts as a fantastic, long-blooming filler plant in summer annual displays. Remember that the flowers are highly attractive to butterflies, making it a strategic choice for pollinator gardens or near outdoor seating areas where wildlife viewing is desired. Its tolerance for heat and less-than-perfect soil also makes it a reliable choice for harsh, sunny spots.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lantana camara, commonly called lantana or shrub verbena, is native to Central and South America and is an upright, frost-tender shrub in its native setting capable of growing quite tall. This specific cultivar, ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK, is recognized for its dense, bushy structure and exceptional flowering resilience from spring until frost. It produces small, tubular flowers in 1.5-inch rounded clusters that frequently display mixed shades of yellow, orange, and bright pink simultaneously. The rough, dark green leaves release a noticeable aroma when bruised, adding another sensory layer to the garden experience.
Tolerances
- None listed
Potential Problems
This particular Lantana cultivar generally demonstrates strong resistance to most common garden pests and diseases. The primary concern arises when overwintering indoor plants, which can sometimes attract common houseplant pests. Monitor closely for occasional infestations of whiteflies or spider mites when the plant is kept indoors during colder months. Prompt action with insecticidal soap is usually highly effective at controlling these opportunistic feeders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Lantana camara ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK suitable for?
Lantana camara ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK is winter hardy to USDA Zones 10 and 11 when grown outdoors year-round. In cooler areas, it is best managed as an annual or brought inside before frost.
How large does Lantana LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK grow?
This dwarf selection maintains a very compact size, typically reaching a height between 0.75 to 1 foot tall with a corresponding spread of 0.75 to 1 foot.
What sun exposure does Lantana need?
For optimal performance throughout the long bloom period, Lantana camara ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK absolutely requires full sun exposure.
When does Lantana bloom?
The small, multi-colored flower clusters appear reliably starting in May and continue blooming profusely until the arrival of frost.
Conclusion
The Lantana camara ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK remains an excellent choice for gardeners seeking non-stop, vivid color performance coupled with remarkably low maintenance. Its small stature and continuous bloom cycle make this Lantana cultivar ideal for containers or sunny annual beds. Before planting, confirm your local hardiness zone, or plan appropriate methods for overwintering if you wish to keep this colorful beauty alive year after year.
Companion Planting
When designing beds featuring Lantana LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK, consider pairing it with plants that share its love for full sun and well-drained soil. Combine it with silvery foliage plants, such as Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria), whose cool tones beautifully contrast the hot pink and yellow flowers of the Lantana. Verbena, which shares similar low-growing habits and pollinator appeal, also makes an excellent neighbor in a sun-drenched border.
For container gardening, plant this Lantana near upright structures like ornamental grasses or taller spikes of Salvia, creating pleasing vertical contrast. Since Lantana tolerates slightly drier conditions once established, avoid grouping it directly beside plants that require consistently wet soil, which could lead to root issues for the Lantana.
Wildlife Benefits
A significant benefit of growing Lantana is its immense appeal to crucial garden helpers. The dense, nectar-rich flower clusters provide an easily accessible food source for numerous butterfly species throughout the entire growing season. This plant’s ability to bloom consistently from May to frost means it offers sustained support for migratory pollinators as well as local insect populations.
Additionally, the flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, providing them with the necessary energy crucial for their active feeding patterns. By incorporating Lantana camara ‘Flortanapi’ LITTLE LUCKY HOT PINK into your landscape, you actively contribute to local ecosystem health while enjoying beautiful, vibrant colors.
