‘Miss Huff’ Lantana – Fertilizing

Q: I have “Miss Huff” lantanas that seem to have gone into a decline. They’re half the height of last year. I pruned in spring but did not fertilize.

A: I’ve noticed the same thing with my mother’s plant near her front door. Although lantana isn’t noted as a heavy feeder, it does need fertilizer each year. ‘Miss Huff’ comes back in April but the previous year’s dead stems are typically removed each winter. This inevitably depletes soil nutrition. Lantana blooms on new growth so it’s important to keep it fed continuously. Apply a slow-release fertilizer (Osmocote, Dynamite, cotton seed meal, etc) next April and see if your plants don’t respond beautifully.