Because of their attractive flowers, which change color from blooming to fading, lantana are among the most beautiful and popular ornamental plants for balconies and patios. The naturally herbaceous, bushy plant can be trained very well as a standard and looks particularly attractive in this growth form. Standard plants are not exactly cheap, but with a little skill you can easily grow them yourself.
The Lantana is very tolerant of pruning and can easily be raised as a standard
Create a high stem
If the lantana is allowed to grow completely free, it thrives like a small bush with numerous branches around the strong main shoot. If you want to grow a standard, only this central shoot is left. It is therefore important to choose a lantana whose central shoot is well developed and has grown as straight as possible.
stabilize trunk
Only the top three to four side shoots remain, they form the basis for the dense crown. Cut off the underlying shoots completely. Stabilize the main shoot with a bamboo stick to which you attach the plant. Use hose tape or tree ties for this, as these materials do not cut into the trunk, which is still very sensitive.
Guide shoots upwards
In the early days, the remaining shoot tips must gain in height and the future trunk in thickness. Therefore, cut off all side shoots consistently. The trunk with the small crown is striving towards the sunlight. So that it does not bend over and become lignified, the additional shoots are also tied down.
cap crown
The shoot tips are regularly shortened to three to many pairs of leaves so that the crown of the lantana high stem is richly branched. New branches remain and are in turn cut back to three to four leaves. Over time, this forms a dense, spherical crown with numerous flower buds.
support of the trunk
We recommend continuing to support the trunk even if it could actually bear the load of the crown on its own. If the rain weighs down the leaves or if there is a wind, you don't have to worry that the effort of pulling up the high stem will be nullified by the bad weather.
tips
You can get already trained lantana high stems from garden retailers. In order for the growth form to be maintained, it is important to follow our care tips for these plants as well and to trim them regularly.