Polecat Geranium

Also known as Shrub Verbena or Polecat Geranium, this rugged evergreen perennial Lantana camara 'Confetti' is a local favorite for its hardiness and cheerful blossoms.  This medium sized shub grows well in zones 9a through 11b and tolerates soil types ranging from clay, to loam, and sand both acidic and alkaline as long as the soil is well-drained. This shrub has an upright growth habit varying from 2 to 3 feet, although I prune mine back to just below 4 feet a couple of times each year.  It can reach 8 feet across, but as you see in the accompanying photo, I keep it pruned to a shape similar to that of a weeping cherry.  This shrub is a very carefree plant that wants lots of sunshine to cover itself in blooms almost year round in our Solano climates.  The 'Confetti' variety produces small 1 to 2 inch clusters of blooms grouping individual small flowers of bright yellow, pink and lavender.  The flowers are attractive to us gardeners as well as bees, butterflies, and birds.  The leaves are dark green and aromatic with coarsely-toothed margins which are simple, opposite, and lanceolate ranging from ¾ of an inch to 3 inches long and ½ inch to 1 ½ inches wide.  The leaves can be an irritant to the skin and the berries which follow the flower are toxic so plant this shrub away from children or dog play areas.  The fast growth rate and drought tolerance makes this shrub a good choice for xeriscape gardens.  This shrub is seldom bothered by pests or disease, but too much water or fertilizer will result in fewer blooms.  This tropical plant will die back at temperatures of 28 degrees F. or less but the plant will return growing from the roots when warm weather returns.

 

Lantana camara 'Confetti'. (photo by Trisha Rose)

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