Pretty Weed, Pretty Weed, Pretty Weed.....

[Jester]

Hi there crazy kids!!! Just want to know if anyone has bonsaid a Lantana. What can u tell me about it?. With the profusion of flowers, I would of thought it would make a create broom style. Any photos would be greatly appreciated .

John

[MattA]

Hey John,

I have seen a few that were really nice, i have also tried several times... damn weeds keep dying on me when I repot or dig & replant!!!

I will be keen to hear what others have to share of experiences, i have access to heaps that could have some potential, just a matter of picking one & digging it.

Matt

[Jester]

Hi Matt, I would not have thought that they would be that "finicky". I thought their robustness would be like that of a privet given how "feral" they are so I must say that surprises me a little.

JOhn

[izzykay]

Lantana Bonsai - Lantana camara


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General Information: Lantana is an evergreen shrub with rough textured bark, rough, pointed, toothed and scented leaves which grows wild throughout Florida. It has small pink and yellow cluster flowers in the summer. Native to SE USA. Grows as wild, erect shrub in a rambling, spreading habit. Well developed trunked specimens may be collected. It is noative to Tropical America. Its leaves are simple, opposite, oblong-obate, to 5 inches long, puckered, interveninal gegions, rough, rugose surface, aromatic when crushed, margins bluntly toothed. Stems are hairy and prickly.

Available commercially in nurseries but found extensively in the wild. Because lantana grows as a weed in Florida collected specimens are a prime source for bonsai. They can be collected in the spring or right on through summer. Such specimens usually have poor root systems but given reasonable care, recover well. They can often be found with old, thick, gnarled trunks. Lantana may also be propagated from seed of the fruit and by cuttings and air layering. Flowers are orange, yellow, red, pink, 4-5 united, lobed petals to 1/4 inch across, in terminal or axillary heads to 2 inches across. Flowers in summer and fall. Fruit is drupe-like berry, clustered, fleshy, black to 1/2 inch in diameter, toxic, irritant sap. Highly salt tolerant.

Family: Verbenaceae.

Lighting: Require full sun. Once the desired style is attained, leaves may be dwarfed by stripping all the leaves off and later removing any which grow to be too large.

Temperature: Zone 9b. Lantana is a tropical plant which should be protected from cold weather.

Watering: Can go dry between waterings.

Feeding:Lantana is a heavy feeder and likes frequent fertilizing with a general purpose fertilizer.

Pruning and wiring: Lantana may be styled in any bonsai manner, but usually looks best as a semi-cascade or informal upright. It can be cut back drastically. Older branches become brittle and extreme care must be given to wiring and bending. Find supplies at http://www.hollowcreekbonsai.com


Propagation: Cuttings, layering, seeds.

Repotting: Once established the bonsai should be repotted every one to three years.

Pests and diseases: Chewing insects.

thanks google......

[Craig]

viewtopic.php?f=130&t=455&start=0&hilit=lantana

[Bretts]

Funny you should ask! I just picked one up of Ray. Not to bonsai but to give to the mother in law for helping look after the house while we where away. Figured it would not be at Ray's nursery unless it had something to do with bonsai so I asked him about it and he showed me his Bonsai'ed specimen of it. Looked dam fine and very pretty with the flowers.
Can't remember where you are Jester but I would go have a chat with Ray about them if you can.

[kcpoole]

Lantana make exceptionally nice Bonsai, but do not use the wild varieties. Many have been bred over the years to infertile so will not spread uncontrollably.

I have about 3 different colours and they are hard as heck to kill

Will take wire well, but are very brittle once hardened off. Grow very fast and need to be repotted twice a year just like Privet. Leave reduce really well, but you must kleep up the work as tey get away quickly if you let them

Ken

[MattA]

John, Theres a few weed species including lantana & camphor laurel that are easily killed in the bush by attacking the roots.

I have not tried with any of the hybrid forms, always the weed species.. Thanks for the info Izzy, what site did you get it from? (Its generally a good idea to credit sources or even better to add a link)

I am looking forward to spring so i can weed some of my local bush
Matt

[Jester]

Hey thanks guys. !!! Lot's of valuable info there which helps me a lot.


regards


John

[izzykay]

http://www.absolutebonsai.com/lantana_bonsai