Texas Lantana
Lantana horrida
Last reviewed: September 2026
Texas Lantana is a tough, sun loving shrub that blooms from spring through fall, offering clusters of orange and yellow flowers that draw butterflies to gardens and roadsides across warm climates.
Toxicity unknown
Texas Lantana (Lantana horrida) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
36"–60" H × 48"–60" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
TX
Pollinators
butterflies, nectar insects
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Texas Lantana is a robust native shrub that produces clusters of small orange, red, and yellow flowers from spring through fall. This drought-tolerant plant forms a rounded bush that dies back to the ground in winter but returns vigorously each spring. It thrives in hot, sunny locations with minimal water once established.
Growing Texas Lantana
Grow Texas Lantana in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 36 to 60 inches tall and spread 48 to 60 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Texas Lantana takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only, mid zone.
- Spread too large for structured beds
Wildlife value
This plant is a butterfly magnet, attracting monarchs, skippers, and many other species throughout its long blooming season. It also provides nectar for various beneficial insects and supports native pollinator populations.
Common questions
- When does Texas Lantana bloom?
- Texas Lantana typically flowers from March through November, with the heaviest bloom during the hot summer months.
- Does Texas Lantana attract pollinators?
- Yes. Texas Lantana is a strong nectar source for butterflies and other pollinating insects throughout its long bloom season.
- How much water does Texas Lantana need?
- Once established, Texas Lantana tolerates dry conditions well and only needs occasional watering during extended drought.
- What growing conditions does Texas Lantana prefer?
- This shrub grows best in full sun with well drained soil, and it handles heat and poor soil better than most flowering shrubs.
- Is Texas Lantana evergreen?
- Texas Lantana keeps its leaves in mild winters but can drop foliage or die back to the roots after a hard freeze.
- Is Texas Lantana HOA-friendly?
- Texas Lantana takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Texas Lantana? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
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