The Flower with Everlasting Blooms

🌻 I have always dreamed of having a cottage garden filled with a beautiful mix of colorful flowers with blooms for all seasons of the year. However, in southern California, a region with an abundance of sunshine and long dry spells, it is very important to select drought-tolerant flowers that are adaptable to the environment and climate. So, when I started planning a flower garden for my cottage house, I did a lot of research.  I attended gardening workshops, visited local nurseries, and read lots gardening books. One plant that always appeared on the lists of recommended drought-tolerant flowers was Lantanas.  

Before I started my flower garden project, I had categorized Lantanas as a dessert flower because they are planted everywhere in dessert communities. However, Lantanas are native to the tropical regions of America, but flourish in direct sunlight which has made them a favorite flower to grow in sunny regions. In 2020,  the National Garden Bureau recognized this flower as the Year of Lantana and the Petal Republic describe Lantanas as a symbol of rigor and rigidity. 

So, while Lantanas are not native to California,  they are a popular ornamental plant in gardens because they are drought-tolerant, easy to grow, love sunshine, produce continuous blooms, and attract pollinators. 🐝🦋  For my cottage garden, I planted lilac and white trailing Lantanas as ground cover and they are one of my favorite flowers. 🌻