The Space-Saving Lantana Variety With Stunning Blooms That's Perfect For Your Small Garden

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Lantanas are beloved garden plants. They boast vibrant blooms and an impressive tolerance to heat and humidity. Some lantana varieties will grow 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide as a perennial, which would overwhelm a small garden. Luckily, there are some compact cultivars available. Take, for instance, the Teenie Genie lantana (Lantana camara 'Monike' Teenie Genie). It is a space-saving dwarf lantana that takes up 2½ feet of space in any direction. Even better, unlike other lantanas that grow leggy and untidy over time, Teenie Genie stays round and compact. You won't even need to prune it to keep it looking neat.

What's possibly a problem for some gardeners is that it's perennial only in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. If you garden in colder zones, you don't have to start exploring other lantana types that can give your garden a burst of color just yet. You can plant Teenie Genie as an annual or overwinter it inside. No matter how you grow this compact lantana, one thing remains true — its blooms are absolutely stunning. They appear in abundance in multiple colors, starting out chiffon yellow and slowly shifting into a rich fuchsia pink. The blooms are magnets for wildlife and will bring both birds and butterflies to your small garden. Bonus: If you live in a warm climate, your Teenie Genie lantana will flower throughout the year.

In small gardens, proper spacing is essential to make the most of every inch. You should aim for about 18 to 24 inches between each newly planted Teenie Genie shrub. This will create a seamless border or mass planting without reducing airflow. Stagnant air is one of the main causes of fungal diseases and pest infestations. If you don't have any space in your flower beds, you can also grow Teenie Genie in containers as a thriller or a filler. All you have to do is make sure that you choose a large enough container and fill it with rich, aerated soil designed for container growing, like FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil. In fact, planters are the perfect way to enjoy colorful lantana in your yard without it taking over.

Whether it's growing in the ground or in a pot, make sure you plant your Teenie Genie lantana in full sun. This shrub can survive in partial shade, but if you want it to put on a colorful show, it needs a lot of bright light. Teenie Genie is drought-tolerant once established, but needs regular water during the first growing season to help build a strong, healthy root system that can support future growth. Fertilizing Teenie Genie lantana is a similar story; it does not need much food. You only need to fertilize your plant once in spring with a balanced granular fertilizer. Don't over-fertilize — your lantana may respond with reduced blooming and more leaves, which isn't the best way to make the most out of your small backyard.