Lantana ‘Dallas Red’ is a desert-adapted ground cover that’s carpeted with fiery red flowers all summer long. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and taking care of this South American hybrid.
Lantana ‘Dallas Red’ (Lantana x ‘Dallas Red’) is an attractive, low-maintenance ground cover that forms a shrub-like mound covered with flowers that start true red, then gradually turn orange and yellow.
It’s not native to the desert southwest, but is tolerant of our harshest conditions — full sun, poor soil, urban pollution, and drought.
Lantana ‘Dallas Red’ attracts many important pollinators — bees, hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies — and yet is resistant to javelinas, deer, and rabbits. The berries, which are toxic to mammals, are enjoyed by birds.
Why I Like This Plant
- Brilliant flowers spring through fall
- Grows fast
- Low water use, low maintenance
- Long-lived, up to 20 years
- Tolerates challenging urban settings
Things to Watch Out For
Like all lantanas, ‘Dallas Red’ is covered with irritating hairs. Some people find lantana mildly irritating, while others develop a full-blown allergic reaction when in contact with it.
Since it dies back from cold, it’s not all that attractive during the winter when it resembles a pile of dead sticks.
All parts of lantana are considered toxic to people, dogs, cats, and horses.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a ‘Dallas Red’ to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Lantana ‘Dallas Red’ should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 – 11. Plants thrive in summer heat and are cold-hardy down to 20℉, meaning that the plant will survive at this low temperature. But once the temperature drops below freezing, it will lose its leaves and flowers until the following spring.
Sun Exposure
Lantana ‘Dallas Red’ thrives in full sun, even the reflected sun off of sidewalks, driveways, or walls. While it can be grown in part shade, the flowers are more colorful in full sun.
Size and Growth Rate
Lantana ‘Dallas Red’ is a fast-growing ground cover that will grow to be 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Some growers report that it can reach its full size in the first year.
Soil
Lantana ‘Dallas Red’ is definitely not picky about soil, as long as it’s well-drained. It will grow in everything from sand to clay, and unlike native plants, which prefer alkaline soil, it will happily grow in either acidic or alkaline soil.
If you have clay soil or a low spot in your yard that tends to stay wet during the monsoon, this lantana doesn’t mind moist growing conditions, as long as there’s no standing water.
Other Location Considerations
Since it can be irritating to touch and toxic for pets, keep it where kids and dogs can’t get at it. It does great in hanging baskets and people in northern climates often buy them for containers and treat them as annuals.
Since it loses its leaves, it’s not a good choice to plant near a pool.
No desert plant is completely “critter-proof.” If animals get hungry enough, they’ll eat almost anything! But deer, javelinas, and rabbits usually leave lantana alone, so you can plant it in your front yard or other unenclosed area.
Lantana ‘Dallas Red’:
The Essentials
| Common Names | ‘Dallas Red’ lantana, lantana ‘Dallas Red’ |
| Scientific Name | Lantana x ‘Dallas Red’ |
| Origin | South America (hybrid) |
| Plant Type | Semi-evergreen ground cover |
| USDA Zones | Zones 8 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 15℉ |
| Flower Color | Red, orange, yellow |
| Flower Season | Spring, summer, fall |
| Mature Size | 2-3’ high x 3-4’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part, reflected sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | none |
| Toxicity | All parts toxic, contact irritation, allergic reaction |
| Wildlife | Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, bees Deer, rabbit, javelina resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any ground cover in the desert is to dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
When to Plant
Since lantana is frost-sensitive, it’s generally recommended that you plant it in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. However, I’ve planted lantana in both the spring and the fall with equal success.
How to Care for Lantana ‘Dallas Red’
Whether you’ve recently planted a lantana or have an existing one in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water
Once you’ve got your lantana in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern.
The University of Arizona recommends watering newly planted ground covers every 2 to 3 days for the first 2 to 4 weeks.
After that, water once a week for the next two weeks, and then every 10 – 14 days after that.
During the winter, while it is dormant, it may not need any water, provided you’ve had winter rains. If not, water every 3 to 6 weeks.
How much water you should give your plant with each watering depends on the diameter of your plant and will change as it grows. You can use this chart as a guide.
| 1 foot diameter | .5 gallons |
| 2 feet diameter | 2 gallons |
| 3 feet diameter | 3.5 gallons |
| 4 feet diameter | 5 gallons |
Should You Fertilize?
Most desert plants don’t need fertilizing, but since ground covers are often planted near other plants, they often have to compete for nutrients. To ensure maximum growth and blooms, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum recommends fertilizing lantana twice per year, in the early spring and early fall.
How to Prune
Lantana ‘Dallas Red’ benefits from a hard prune in the spring after the last frost date. Don’t be afraid to take your plant all the way down to the ground. It grows vigorously and will quickly grow back to its former size.
During its growing season, you can prune lightly anytime to control its size or shape.
Caution!
Spraying with insecticidal soap or dish detergent can kill lantanas.
Other Red Lantanas to Consider
‘Dallas Red’ is said to have the truest red flowers of all the lantana hybrids. But if you can’t find ‘Dallas Red’ locally, there are many red lantana varieties you might consider instead including:
- Proven Winners: Luscious Royale Red Zone or Bandana Red lantanas
- Monrovia: Radiation, Fiesta Picante, or Hot-Blooded lantanas
Plant Lover Facts
‘Dallas Red’ is a hybrid of Lantana camara, which has a large native range that extends from South America, through Central America, and Mexico.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
Photo Credit
Gnanajasonpaul, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons