Greg Grant Lantana

Greg Grant Lantana (Lantana camara 'Greg Grant')

Greg Grant Lantana, Lantana camara 'Greg Grant', is an upright, sun loving variegated lantana prized for its dark green leaves splashed with gold and cream and its constantly changing flower color. Clusters of light pink blooms open above the foliage and gradually fade to soft yellow, so each plant shows a blend of warm pastel tones at any given moment. With its pronounced variegation, strong heat tolerance, and long bloom season, this selection creates an easy focal point in sunny beds, borders, and containers while offering both foliage and flower interest from late spring until frost.

Distinctive Features

Greg Grant Lantana typically grows about 18 to 30 inches tall and 18 to 30 inches wide, forming a full, upright mounded habit that stays tidy with minimal pruning. The foliage is a standout feature, with deep green leaves boldly splashed and edged in gold and cream, so the plant looks colorful even when not in peak bloom. Rounded flower clusters open in light pink and gradually shift toward soft yellow as they age, creating a confetti like mix of warm tones above the two toned foliage. In warm climates it behaves as a tender perennial; in cooler regions it is usually grown as a high performance annual chosen for its combination of showy variegation and nonstop blooming.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Prefers full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light daily for best flowering, strong variegation, and compact growth.
• Soil: Performs well in average, well drained soils and adapts to sandy or lean ground as long as excess water can drain away.
• Water: Water regularly after planting to establish, then allow the top of the soil to dry slightly between waterings; once rooted in, plants are moderately drought tolerant.
• Hardiness: Commonly used as an annual in cold climates and as a tender perennial in frost free or very mild regions where lantana is widely grown.
• Size: Upright mounded habit usually 18 to 30 inches tall and 18 to 30 inches wide at maturity, depending on climate and site.
• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast grower that fills in quickly as weather warms, making it ideal for strong seasonal impact.

Ideal Uses

• Colorful Focal Point: Plant near entries, along walks, or at the front of beds where its variegated foliage and pastel flower clusters naturally draw the eye in sunny spots.
• Containers and Patio Pots: Excellent as a stand alone centerpiece or combined with trailing companions in porch, deck, and patio planters where foliage and flowers can be appreciated up close.
• Sunny Borders and Edging: Use along driveways, sidewalks, or the front of mixed borders to create a band of foliage and flower color that holds interest all season.
• Mixed Foliage Plantings: Pair with solid green, silver, or dark purple leaved plants to highlight the gold and cream variegation and add layered texture.
• Pollinator Gardens: Nectar rich blooms attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, making it a strong choice for pollinator friendly plantings.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: After establishment, water deeply but infrequently, keeping soil lightly moist but never saturated; containers may need more frequent watering during hot, dry weather.
• Pruning: Deadheading is optional; trimming off spent flower clusters and lightly shearing once or twice in midsummer can refresh the plant and encourage new waves of bloom.
• Fertilizing: In garden beds, mix a balanced, slow release fertilizer into the soil at planting; in containers, supplement with a water soluble fertilizer every few weeks to support continuous flowering and foliage quality.
• Mulching: Apply a light layer of mulch in beds to conserve moisture and reduce weeds, keeping mulch slightly away from the base of the stems.
• Seasonal Care: In cold regions, treat as an annual and replace after frost; in warm climates, lightly cut back and clean up plants in late winter to encourage fresh new growth.

Why Choose Greg Grant Lantana?

• Bold Variegated Foliage: Dark green leaves splashed with gold and cream provide season long color and pattern, even between peak blooms.
• Soft Multicolored Blooms: Flower clusters shift from light pink to soft yellow, giving each plant a warm, ever changing palette.
• Upright, Compact Habit: Naturally mounded form fits easily into beds, borders, and containers without constant pinching or shearing.
• Heat and Sun Tolerant: Performs reliably in hot, sunny conditions where many other flowering plants fade.
• Pollinator Friendly: Attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, adding motion and life to sunny garden spaces while serving as a distinctive focal point.

With its bold variegated foliage, softly shifting pink and yellow flower clusters, and strong tolerance for heat and sun, Greg Grant Lantana is a dependable choice for adding long lasting, low maintenance color and a distinctive focal point to sunny beds, borders, and containers.