How to prune a Lantana
Lantana camara
Quick answer
For outdoor Lantana camara, shape shoot growth and remove old wood in late winter or spring. Wait to cut frost-blackened growth until new shoots emerge.

Toxic to pets
How to prune a Lantana
- 01
Choose what to remove
Target shoot growth for size and shape, old woody growth in spring, and frost-blackened material only after the frost period has passed and new growth begins.
Cutting back controls an outdoor plant’s size and shape, removes old woody growth and clears frost-damaged or weak growth.
- 02
Prune at the right time
Use late winter before new growth or spring after the frost season for hard pruning. Leave frost-blackened leaves until temperatures warm and new growth emerges.
- 03
Make one clean cut
Trim shoots to control the selected plant’s size and shape, remove woody growth in spring, and clear dead frost debris once frost danger has passed. Wear gloves, because the leaves can irritate skin.
- 04
When pruning will not help
Frost, the cultivar’s habit and whether the plant lives in a patio container all change when it is safe to prune. There is no fixed amount to cut back and no set indoor winter schedule.
All Lantana guides
Keep reading
Sources4 references
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Plants of the World OnlineAccepted name and taxonomic record
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension: Wisconsin HorticultureOverview of Lantana · landscape uses · cultivation and overwintering
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant ToolboxDescription · cultural conditions · landscape/container uses · problems
- Royal Horticultural SocietyPlant profile · growing conditions · container context
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