When it comes to creating a visually appealing garden or landscape design, selecting the right companions for your lantana plants can make all the difference. Lantanas are known for their vibrant, showy blooms and attractive foliage, and pairing them with the right plants can enhance their beauty even further. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best plant options that look good next to lantana, based on their compatibility and aesthetic appeal.
Angelonia: Delicate Blooms Among Lantana
Angelonia, also known as summer snapdragon, is a lovely annual that complements lantana beautifully. With its delicate, spiky blooms in shades of white, pink, and purple, angelonia adds a touch of elegance and softness to the vibrant blooms of lantana. Planting these two together can create a striking visual contrast that is sure to attract attention.
Bidens: Sunny Yellow Accents
For those looking to add a pop of bright color to their garden, bidens is an excellent choice to pair with lantana. The cheerful yellow blooms of bidens create a sunny contrast to the warm hues of lantana flowers, adding depth and interest to the overall look of the planting bed. Together, these two plants create a dynamic display that is perfect for summer gardens.
Canna Lily: Tropical Touches
If you’re aiming for a tropical-inspired garden design, consider pairing lantana with canna lilies. With their large, bold foliage and striking blooms in shades of red, orange, and yellow, canna lilies create a dramatic backdrop for the colorful flowers of lantana. This combination adds a touch of exotic flair to your outdoor space, creating a vibrant and lush look that is sure to impress.
Cuphea: Unique Texture and Form
Adding cuphea to your planting scheme alongside lantana can introduce a unique texture and form to the mix. Cuphea, also known as firecracker plant, features tubular blooms in shades of red, purple, and pink that complement the rounded clusters of lantana flowers. The contrasting shapes and sizes of these two plants create an eye-catching display that adds visual interest and depth to your garden beds.
Gazania: Drought-Tolerant Beauty
For those looking to create a water-wise garden with plenty of visual appeal, consider pairing lantana with gazanias. These drought-tolerant plants feature daisy-like blooms in vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and red that complement the warm hues of lantana flowers. Together, these two plants create a low-maintenance planting combination that thrives in hot, dry conditions while providing a stunning display of color.
Marigold: Classic Charm and Pest Control
Marigolds are a classic choice for companion planting, thanks to their charming blooms and natural pest-repelling properties. Pairing marigolds with lantana not only adds a touch of traditional beauty to your garden but also helps deter common garden pests. The bright yellow, orange, and red hues of marigold flowers create a cheerful contrast to the colorful blooms of lantana, making this duo a winning combination for both aesthetics and practicality.
Calibrachoa: Cascading Colorful Blooms
Calibrachoa, also known as million bells, is a popular annual plant valued for its profusion of small, trumpet-shaped blooms in a wide range of colors. When paired with lantana, calibrachoa’s trailing growth habit and colorful flowers create a cascade of vibrant hues that adds a dynamic element to your garden landscape. This pairing works well in hanging baskets, containers, or garden beds where the plants can mingle and intertwine to create a lush, colorful display.
Nasturtium: Edible Blooms and Bold Colors
For a unique and edible companion to lantana, consider planting nasturtiums alongside your lantana bushes. Nasturtiums are prized for their brightly colored, edible blooms that add a peppery kick to salads and other dishes. The bold, jewel-toned flowers of nasturtiums create a striking contrast to the vibrant blooms of lantana, adding a playful and whimsical touch to your garden design. This pairing not only looks good but also offers a practical benefit in the form of edible flowers that can be enjoyed throughout the season.
Nemesia: Fragrant Blooms and Color Harmony
If you’re looking to create a sensory experience in your garden, consider pairing lantana with nemesia. Nemesia is prized for its fragrant blooms in shades of purple, pink, and white, which complement the bright and colorful flowers of lantana. Planting these two together not only creates a visually pleasing display but also fills your outdoor space with the sweet, delicate scent of nemesia flowers, adding another layer of enjoyment to your garden experience.
Pentas: Butterfly Magnet and Long Bloom Time
Pentas, also known as Egyptian star-cluster, are beloved for their attractive clusters of star-shaped flowers that bloom in shades of red, pink, purple, and white. When paired with lantana, pentas add a pop of vibrant color and extended bloom time to your garden beds. These two plants are also known for their ability to attract butterflies and pollinators, creating a lively and dynamic ecosystem in your outdoor space. The combination of pentas and lantana not only looks good but also supports local wildlife and biodiversity, making it a fantastic choice for eco-conscious gardeners.
Petunia: Classic Blooms and Versatile Colors
Petunias are a tried-and-true favorite for gardeners looking to add a burst of color to their outdoor landscapes. With their trumpet-shaped blooms in a wide range of colors, petunias offer endless possibilities for pairing with lantana. Whether you opt for a monochromatic scheme or a bold mix of contrasting hues, petunias provide a classic backdrop for the colorful blooms of lantana. This versatile plant pairing allows you to create a personalized and vibrant garden design that suits your style and preference.
Salvia: Vertical Accent and Rich Hues
Salvias are popular garden plants known for their spiky blooms and rich, saturated colors. When paired with lantana, salvias add a vertical accent to your garden beds, creating a visual contrast to the round, clustered flowers of lantana. The deep purples, blues, and reds of salvia blooms create a bold and striking backdrop for the vibrant hues of lantana flowers, adding depth and dimension to your outdoor space. This pairing works well in mixed borders, containers, or as focal points in your garden design where the tall spikes of salvias can stand out against the mounding growth of lantana.
Scaevola: Cascading Beauty and Heat Tolerance
For a stunning display of cascading blooms that thrive in hot, sunny conditions, consider pairing lantana with scaevola. Scaevola, also known as fan flower, features trailing stems adorned with fan-shaped blooms in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white that complement the rounded clusters of lantana flowers. This duo creates a dynamic and eye-catching display that is perfect for hanging baskets, containers, or rock gardens where the plants can spill over and mingle to create a lush and colorful tapestry of blooms.
Sweet Potato Vine: Foliage Contrast and Trailing Beauty
For those looking to add a touch of greenery and texture to their garden beds, sweet potato vine is an excellent companion plant for lantana. With its trailing growth habit and heart-shaped leaves in shades of green, purple, and variegated patterns, sweet potato vine provides a striking contrast to the vibrant blooms of lantana. This pairing adds depth and interest to your garden design, creating a lush and layered look that is sure to impress. Whether used as a ground cover, container spiller, or border plant, sweet potato vine complements lantana beautifully and enhances the overall visual appeal of your outdoor space.
