Lantana in Zone 8a & 8b
Lantana camara
Yes, lantana grows in zones 8a and 8b. Set out nursery plants Apr 8–Apr 15.
When to plant lantana in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b 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 | Apr 8–Apr 15 |
| Estimated bloom | Jul 7–Jul 14 (~90 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 7 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of lantana in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumApr 1–Apr 8
- MarigoldApr 1–Apr 8
- Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)Apr 8–Apr 15
- Bee BalmApr 8–Apr 15
- Black-Eyed Susan VineApr 8–Apr 15
- Chrysanthemum (Garden Mum)Apr 8–Apr 15
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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Lantana needs about 90 days from transplant to first bloom.
Lantana planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b 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 | 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 (your zone) | 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)
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Growing Lantana in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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