Grow Lantana in Pots: Attract More Butterflies
Lantana Containers for Monarchs and More
If you have a container garden, have you considered growing lantana in pots to attract monarchs and other brilliant butterflies?

Why Grow Lantana in Pots?
There are several compelling reasons to grow lantana in containers:
- Irresistible pollinator-plants to monarchs, swallowtails, other butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, moths, and other beneficial pollinators love lantana
- Easy to grow and care for
- Thrive in full sun
- Drought tolerant
- Minimal issues with pests
- Continuous-blooming plants always available for butterflies and pollinators
- Portability: Move containers in optimal areas to attract butterflies and view them
- Vibrant lantana flowers and deep green foliage add beauty to the garden
Types of Lantana Plants for Containers
When considering what types of lantana to grow in pots, lantana camara is a popular choice due to its superior ability to attract butterflies, but be sure to consider all options listed below for a garden filled with butterfly wings:
1. Lantana camara: This species has many colorful varieties and hybrids. Look for compact cultivars that are suitable for containers, such as Dallas Red, Radiation, or New Gold, which have a growth habit that is more manageable in pots.
2. Lantana montevidensis: Known as trailing lantana, this type has a spreading growth habit, making it excellent for hanging baskets or as a spiller in container arrangements. Varieties like Luscious Grape or ‘White Trailing’ can add a trailing effect for raised beds, window boxes, or hanging baskets.

4. Lantana Hybrids: Hybrids of Lantana camara are grown to improve on desirable characteristics. The Bandolero series was bred to have larger flowers and vigorous branching.
5. Compact Varieties: Little lucky, miniflor, and bandana series possess a more compact growth habit and vibrant flowers, and are dwarf varieties specifically bred for container growth and striking color combinations. These shorter varieties are good options for lantana containers.
Which type of Lantana is best for attracting butterflies?
While many Lantana varieties attract butterflies, Lantana camara is generally considered the top species choice. Its prolific and long-lasting blooms, in a variety of colors, provide a consistent, nectar-rich food source for many butterfly species.
That being said there are many different colors and hybrids to choose from, so make sure you use plant markers and take notice of which lantana pots attract the most butterflies so you can overwinter them or buy more next season.
How to Grow Lantana in Pots Successfully?
What type of pot is best for Lantana plants?
- Clay or Terracotta Pots: These pots are breathable and can help with moisture control, allowing excess moisture to evaporate. They also help keep the root system cooler in hot weather.
- Plastic Pots: Lightweight and often insulated for temperature control, plastic pots are a good option. They retain moisture longer than clay, which can be beneficial in drier conditions but may require more careful watering to avoid overwatering.
- Ceramic Pots: Glazed ceramic pots look attractive and can retain moisture well. Ensure they have good drainage holes, as standing water can lead to root rot.
- Fabric Pots: Grow bags or fabric pots promote healthy root development by allowing air to circulate and prevent overwatering. They are lightweight and often ideal for container gardening.
- Hanging baskets: often in plastic containers that can be hung from shepherds hooks other hooks strategically placed around home and garden
- Window Boxes: for dwarf lantana plants
- Raised Beds: for larger varieties with sprawling growth
What is the best size container to grow lantana in pots?
- Choose a pot that is at least 12 inches in diameter for standard lantana varieties. Dwarf or compact varieties may thrive in smaller pots.
- Ensure there is adequate depth (at least 10-12 inches) to accommodate the root system and provide room for growth.
Also consider the weight of your container if you want a portable lantana plant you can easily move around the yard and garden at different points in the season.
What is the best potting mix for Lantana in Pots?
Lantanas generally prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH around 6.0 to 7.0). Most high quality all-purpose potting mixes are good options and fall within this range.
Lantanas prefer a soil mix that drains well to prevent root rot. A good potting mix for lantana should contain the following components:
- Peat Moss or Coir: Provides moisture retention while allowing for good drainage.
- Perlite or Vermiculite: These lightweight materials enhance aeration and drainage, preventing the soil from becoming compacted and ensuring that oxygen reaches the roots.
- Composted Bark or Pine Bark: This adds organic matter and helps with aeration while contributing to a well-structured mix.
Again, a good potting mix should have everything you need inside one bag.
How to Ensure Proper Drainage and Air Circulation for Lantana in Containers?
Improving soil contents, container drainage, and air circulation for potted lantana is essential for maintaining healthy plants. Here are several strategies to enhance air circulation and drainage for your potted lantana:
Why are drainage holes important for Lantana pots?
Your container plants need well-draining soil. Container drainage holes prevent issues such as mold, rot, and moisture-loving pests, like fungus gnats.
Most containers designed for plants have drainage holes but if not, or you think they need more, drill 4-8 holes spread out across the bottom of your pot. The diameter of each hole should be around ½ inch.
How to improve air circulation for potted Lantana?
Place pots in a location with good natural airflow. If possible, position them where they can catch breezes, such as a balcony or patio. Avoid positioning near walls or other obstructions that could block airflow.
Lantana Care Guide
Once your plants are potted and placed outdoors, here are some caring for lantana tips…
How often should you water Lantana in containers?
Watering lantana in containers requires consideration of several factors, including the plant’s needs, the type of container, the climate, and the time of year:
- Warm weather >80°F: During the growing season (spring and summer), container lantana may need watering every 3 to 7 days, depending on temperature, wind, and humidity levels. On hotter days or in windy conditions, you may need to water more frequently.
- Cool weather <80°F:
In early spring and late fall, lantana’s water needs decrease significantly. You may only need to water every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on your climate and growing conditions.
How to fertilize Lantana for optimal bloom?
Use a water soluble fertilizer every 1 to 2 weeks to promote healthy growth and continuous blooms for butterflies.
When and how should you prune Lantana?
- A good time to prune lantana is in early spring before new growth begins
- continue pruning during the season to shape the plant, cut back leggy growth, cut back crossing or wayward branches, or keep it from spreading
- Growing lantana perennially? tidy-up trim before winter
How to deadhead spent flowers on Lantana?
- remove dried up or spent flower clusters by trimming them with a snips. Cut back to the first set of leaves below the flower head to deadhead lantana.
- you can also remove them by gently pulling, but you could also end up accidentally pulling flower buds, so pull carefully.
What should you do if your Lantana is not blooming?
No blooms, means no butterflies! Fortunately, this is not a common issue and should be easily remedied if it is. Here are the most common reasons your lantana pots aren’t blooming:
- Insufficient sunlight: keep the plant containers in areas where they’ll
- get 6-8 hours of sunlight
- Fertilizer imbalance: too much nitrogen means more plant/root growth and less flowering. Use a fertilizer with more phosphorous to promote flowering instead
How to manage pests and diseases in Lantana plants?
In a butterfly garden, there’s limited options for disease and pest management if you want to avoid killing butterflies and pollinators too:
- Hydrogen peroxide mix: use 4 parts water to 1 part hydrogen peroxide (3%) to kill fungus on plant leaves
- Hand picking pests: time-consuming but a much better option then using sprays or oils that can kill or repel butterflies and pollinators
How to manage predators in Lantana Plant containers?
- Move Your Containers: one advantage to planting lantana in pots is portability. We had a lantana container near our water feature and saw a frog snap up a giant swallowtail butterfly. We moved the container on to our deck and that solved the problem.
- Hand picking predators: we don’t do this often but some monarch predators to consider rehousing would be lizards, large spiders, mantises…oh my!
How to Overwinter Lantana in Pots?
Wintering lantana indoors is a good option for cold winter climates where they won’t survive outdoors. Winter care for lantana in containers is easier than you might think, but good prep is key:
- If overwintering potted lantana plants that were already potted, unpot the plant to make sure you don’t have rootbound plants that have outgrown their current container
- If overwintering direct-planted lantana you will need to dig out the plant and cut back the root system so it can easily fir in your container
More info on overwintering potted butterfly plants indoors
How To Save More Butterflies in 2025
If you grow lantana in pots and place them in optimal areas, you’re sure to starting see more butterflies fluttering your way soon! For more info on attracting butterflies to your garden doorstep, check out my free ebook that reveals: