Lantana in Zone 3a & 3b
Lantana camara
Yes, lantana grows in zones 3a and 3b. Set out nursery plants Jun 13–Jun 20.
When to plant lantana in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Buy as a start: Buy as a nursery start and transplant outside. It's slow or unreliable from seed, so most gardeners skip seed-starting it entirely.
| Start indoors | Not started from seed; buy as a nursery start |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| Estimated bloom | Sep 11–Sep 18 (~90 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 7 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Before you plant: Zone 3b's first fall frost usually comes close to or before the bloom. See the details below.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of lantana in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumJun 6–Jun 13
- MarigoldJun 6–Jun 13
- Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)Jun 13–Jun 20
- Black-Eyed Susan VineJun 13–Jun 20
- Cleome (Spider Flower)Jun 13–Jun 20
- ColeusJun 13–Jun 20
Lantana is a sprawling, heat-tolerant bloomer that only really makes sense in warm zones (8-11), and worth a second look at which specific cultivar you're buying, since ordinary Lantana camara has a documented invasive track record in mild climates. The flowers come in small, tight clusters that open one color and fade to another, yellow shading to orange or pink fading to white, giving a 2- to 3-foot spreading mound its multicolor look.
How lantana fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Lantana needs about 90 days from transplant to first bloom.
Frost risk in zone 3b: Bloom usually starts about 6 days after zone 3b's average first frost (September 5), and lantana is damaged by even a light frost. It's close: an average date means frost comes earlier about half the time, so pick a faster-maturing variety if you can and be ready to cover plants on cold nights. (Frost tolerance and protection advice: Purdue Extension.)
Lantana planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | Buy as a start | Jun 13–Jun 20 | Sep 11–Sep 18 |
| 4a & 4b | Buy as a start | May 29–Jun 5 | Aug 27–Sep 3 |
| 5a & 5b | Buy as a start | May 24–May 31 | Aug 22–Aug 29 |
| 6a & 6b | Buy as a start | May 9–May 16 | Aug 7–Aug 14 |
| 7a & 7b | Buy as a start | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 23–Jul 30 |
| 8a & 8b | Buy as a start | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Jul 7–Jul 14 |
| 9a & 9b | Buy as a start | Mar 1–Mar 8 | May 30–Jun 6 |
| 10a & 10b | Buy as a start | Feb 13–Feb 20 | May 14–May 21 |
| 11a & 11b | Buy as a start | Jan 15–Jan 22 | Apr 15–Apr 22 |
Bloom dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
No well-established companions for lantana.
Where to buy lantana starts
Lantana is almost always bought as a nursery start rather than seeded. Check a local nursery or garden center; we haven't vetted online start/plant suppliers yet.
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing lantana" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Lantana in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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