I think I have that one. IÂve had a couple different varieties of lantana come back from the roots in south facing flowerbeds that were mulched well when we lived in town. It gets too cold here a mere three miles away from where we lived before, so all my tropicals are container plants.

randy

Well, good then! There's hope! I live in town, and sometimes it seems like we have some sort of micro climate here - either that or the winters have been SO mild that things which shouldn't come back do! I hope it continues that way. It's a very pretty variety, and the hummers and butterflies are said to like it - so I like it too! It is so fun to watch all the little creatures enjoying the garden.

I'm finding more and more varities of lantana labeled as perennial, so it's possible that you do have a hardy variety. Still, it would be good to mulch it well. Then be sure to remove the mulch when the weather warms up as lantana LOVE heat and will sulk until the soil around their roots warms up. I have several microclimates in my yard where annuals will survive as long as I mulch them or leave the leaves piled up around them to keep the crowns from freezing. Purple heart surely survives well in a bed I have near the street where the concrete holds heat well.

I do not really know the difference between an annual and a perennial. I used to think that if it came back it was a perennial, and if it had to be re-purchased it was an annual. Someone on one of those Forums corrected me once, and I don't have a clue what they said, except that I was wrong.

However, many many of my flowers come back if I want to wait for them. Lantanas do, and so do many of the Vincas. But by the time they have come back I have usually bought some more. Condidering that they come back on their own, I would believe that many are made to come back, but do agree that they should be mulched.

Have any of you seen Browalia for sale around Tulsa? I love that flower.
Sammy

I have two collections of the wild lantana horrida (really doesn't look much/any different than lantana camara that most people grow), which have returned more vigorously each year for the past 3 years. I purchased them from the nursery in Clinton, OK...
Being a SW Oklahoma and Texas native, they do well here.

There are some lantana that are hardy in Oklahoma. Especially with our mild winters. I've heard, though, that when we really get a cold, cold winter, it will kill them. That said, my neighboring gardener, has had a hardy lantana (with the yellow, pink, and red cluster blooms) come back every year. He's even dug it up and moved it several times. I bought a red one at the herb festival that is supposed to be hardy. I hope so.

Susan

OKC1 - The Purple Heart has come back for me, too. It's not been very vigorous, but maybe this year it will go crazy. I hope so! I think I need to really radically amend my soil - too much clay in that particular bed. Well, as radical as I can get without removing all the plants. That might explain the lack of vigor. I did spread some manure on top this Spring. Hoping that helps.

If the Lantana lasts, great. I hope it does - but if not, I spent less than $2 on it, so I won't be terribly heartbroken *sniff sniff*. Love the pink, cream and orange together. I hope it sticks around! Anyone else have some supposed annuals or tender perennials come back reliably? It's always a fun surprise when something comes back that shouldn't.

I have gladiolas that come back every year without fail. Also, elephant ears and dahlias.

Susan

I am 25 miles southwest of okc and I have several lantanas that I bought from marcums 5years ago. they have the pink and yellow cluster. They have come back every year and I have never mulched them. I just leave the dead wood til spring and cut it back when I see new growth in march. These have gotten bigger each year. This year the each plant is about 4ft wide. I also have a few new ones that have popped up a few feet away from the parents, I guess maybe they came off of the roots??? Anyway, this was just my two cents....I thought they were perinials. good luck

It's also amazing how well they do with relatively little sun. I have one that is six years old that blooms beautifully every year and it only gets about 4 hours of sun a day. It's the same as the other, pink and orange and yellow. but, I will say that the others, which are in 6-8 hours of sun a day got 3 feet tall last year while the one in shade was not nearly as tall.
I do have a tip re. the purple heart. Thelighter the soil the better on top, but they like having moist feet during the summer so the clay works just fine for them.