Lantana (shrub verbena) trial results 2025
Objectives and purpose of the trial
Multiple Lantana cultivars at RHS Wisley in August 2025
Fiery colours of EVITA SCARLET (‘Volan 4208’) adds vibrancy
What is an RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit?
The RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit is intended to help gardeners choose reliable plants and is only awarded to plants that are:
- Healthy, with good overall growth and appearance
- Excellent performers, resilient in the right conditions
- Available to buy in garden centres or online
- Reasonably resistant to common pests and diseases
- True to type, keeping a consistent colour and form
Judging criteria
The following factors were all taken into consideration as part of the judging of the trial:
- Floriferousness and length of flowering season
- Flower to foliage balance
- Attractiveness of foliage
- Health and vigour
Lantana – RHS Recommended: AGM winners
Lantana camara Bloomify White ('Baloomwite') (Bloomify Series)
Lantana camara Bloomify Pink ('Baloomink')
Lantana camara Shamrock Rose Improved ('Balshamrosim') (Shamrock Series)
Lantana camara Bloomify White ('Baloomwite') (Bloomify Series)
Lantana camara Bloomify Pink ('Baloomink')
Lantana camara Shamrock Rose Improved ('Balshamrosim') (Shamrock Series)
I was excited to see the difference in size and habit between the Lantana cultivars as they grew through the summer. From the small and compact plants to much larger, sprawling cultivars.
Why the RHS Recommended: AGM was awarded
SHAMROCK PEACH (‘Balshameai’) clusters vary in shades of colour
Mounds of Lantana create interest in October 2025
RHS Recommended: AGMs rescinded
Plants and location
What was planted?
Lantana are tender, evergreen, low-growing shrubs with wrinkled, ovate leaves and domed clusters of bright flowers from late spring to autumn. Flower colours range from white, yellow and orange to pink and red, with some selections producing multicoloured flowerheads as individual flowers age. Lantana montevidensis typically bears purple or white flowers. The foliage releases a distinctive scent when crushed.
Throughout the trial, the RHS Trials team photographed each entry, recording both overall habit and close-up details, while also monitoring key performance data such as flowering periods. The trial aimed to assess how well each cultivar performs for gardeners today, highlight recent breeding developments and check the accuracy of names used in the trade.
Where was it planted?
Lantana entries were grown in containers and in the ground in the Trials Garden at RHS Wisley, creating a vibrant display of colour from summer into autumn. Here are some considerations for growing lantanas:
- Plant lantanas in full sun for the best flowering and growth
- They perform well in containers or directly in the ground
- Lantanas bloom from late spring until the first frost
- Although they are evergreen, most require a frost-free environment to survive winter
- Most varieties stay below 30cm tall, though a few may grow taller
- Deadheading (removing spent flowers) can help extend the flowering period
Cultivation
Planting process
Before planting, the trial bed soil was analysed to check its suitability. No issues were identified. Each entry consisted of six plants: three grown in terracotta pots and three planted directly in the ground. All were grown using peat-free compost. Plants were spaced 50cm apart in rows to allow even growth and easy assessment and entries were grouped by Series name for comparison.
The beds were mulched with Strulch, a straw-based mulch, to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Drip irrigation supplied water and liquid feed to both the container-grown and ground-planted entries twice a week, with the frequency adjusted later in the season.
Plants were grown with minimal intervention, with no pruning or deadheading, allowing judges to assess how well each selection maintained its flower display and overall habit without regular maintenance. Dead flowers were found to be easily knocked off when tidying the plants and didn’t require deadheading.
During the trial, containers of the highest-rated entries were moved alongside their corresponding ground-grown plants to make comparisons easier. The ground-grown plants were left in place over winter to assess whether any selections showed greater hardiness.
How plant health was managed
Challenges
Lantana are generally resilient plants and are rarely affected by pests or diseases, making them relatively low maintenance. Regular monitoring was carried out throughout the trial, which was largely problem free. After the first cool nights, some dieback was noticed in areas where plants had become congested and affected plants were removed.
Growing conditions
Container-grown plants developed strong taproots that grew through the drainage holes and into the ground below. In some cases, the roots blocked the drainage holes, causing the containers to become waterlogged. This was identified during routine monitoring and the affected containers were corrected by the trials horticulturist.
Weather
Spring 2025 received 45.9mm of rainfall, making it provisionally the fourth driest spring on record at RHS Wisley. The peak daily maximum temperature at the RHS Hilltop weather station was 33°C in July and three heatwaves were recorded across June and July. Rainfall in May was 55% of the RHS Wisley (1990–2019) average, while June was also drier than usual.The first cool night, with a minimum temperature of 0.4°C, was recorded on 27 September 2025. This was followed by a mild October and November, allowing the trial to continue flowering until November.
How to grow lantanas
Explore all the information you need to know to grow and care for lantanas in your garden
Discoveries
Lantanas move to new location | October 2025
Following the final judging meeting of the Lantana trial, Martin Einchcomb returned in October to rehome some of the container-planted Lantana to the National Plant Collection at Hampton Court Palace. Over 70 entries were lifted from their containers and transported to Hampton Court Palace, where they will be preserved as part of the collection.
Pollinator sightings | August 2025
The judges were on the look out for insect visitors to the trial during the assessment meetings. Among a great range of pollinators, the most memorable visitors were a hummingbird hawk moth and painted lady butterfly (pictured).
Container-grown plants flowered first | May 2025
Plants grown in containers were the first to flower and reach their full potential, while those grown in the ground took considerably longer to come into flower. Despite this difference in timing, both container-grown and ground-grown plants delivered an impressive floral display later in the season.
Misidentified plants discovered | 2025
During the trial, three plants entered as Lantana montevidensis were found to produce white flowers. Martin Einchcomb identified these plants as Lantana mearnsii, recognising them by their white flowers and more upright, nettle-like habit.
Who was involved?
Judges of the trial
The 2025 Lantana judges were: David Creese (Trial Chair and RHS Tender Ornamental Expert Group member), David Austrin (St John’s College, Cambridge), Roy Cheek (RHS Tender Ornamental Expert Group member), Martin Einchcomb (Lantana National Collection Holder, Hampton Court Palace), David Ford (RHS Tender Ornamental Expert Group Trials Coordinator), John Hughes (RHS Judge and Tender Ornamental Expert Group member), Lara Jewitt (RHS Judge and Tender Ornamental Expert Group member), David Hurrion (RHS Judge and Tender Ornamental Expert Group member), Stuart Lowen (bedding plant expert), Greg Redwood (RHS Judge and Tender Ornamental Expert Group member), Yvonne Walker (plant retail specialist and former Managing Director of Hayloft Plants) and Christopher Young (RHS Wisley Garden Manager and RHS Tender Ornamental Expert Group member).
Suppliers to the trial
List of plants in the trial
Handy tools and information
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Gardening advice
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Get in touch
For more information on our RHS Plant Trials or to access older trial reports, please get in touch with our team via email at [email protected].
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