Plant Profiles & Identification

How to Grow and Care for Chapel Hill Yellow Lantana

Explore a special lantana cultivar valued for its compact growth, improved hardiness, and vibrant, non-invasive yellow flowers.

Chapel Hill Yellow Lantana is a resilient perennial known for its continuous, bright yellow flowers and manageable, compact size. It is a dependable source of color that requires minimal attention. Its ability to thrive in hot conditions and bloom from spring until the first frost makes it a versatile choice for garden beds, borders, and containers.

Unique Traits of Chapel Hill Yellow

Developed at North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill Yellow is a hybrid cross between the cultivars ‘Miss Huff’ and ‘New Gold’. This parentage gives it both exceptional cold hardiness and its low, spreading growth habit. It typically reaches a height of about 16 inches and can spread two to three feet wide, forming a dense mound of deep green foliage that contrasts with its flowers.

A primary feature of Chapel Hill Yellow is its sterility. Unlike many lantana varieties that become invasive from seed production, this cultivar does not produce berries, ensuring it stays contained. This makes it a responsible choice for gardeners. It is also cold hardy, reliably returning in USDA hardiness zones 7b through 11.

The flowers have pale yellow buds that open to a medium yellow, often with a darker yellow-orange center. This continuous bloom cycle from spring through fall provides long-lasting appeal in the garden.

Planting and Placement

Proper placement is important for prolific blooms. Chapel Hill Yellow thrives in locations that receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, as less sun can result in fewer flowers. Space individual plants according to their mature spread of two to three feet to allow for air circulation, which helps prevent powdery mildew.

This lantana prefers well-draining soil and is adaptable to various soil types, including poor or slightly acidic ones. In gardens with heavy clay, amending the area with organic matter like compost improves drainage. For container planting, use a quality all-purpose potting mix to ensure drainage.

Dig a hole that is slightly wider and the same depth as the plant’s root ball. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Backfill the hole, tamping down the soil to remove air pockets, and water thoroughly to help the plant settle.

Seasonal Care and Maintenance

Once established, Chapel Hill Yellow is drought-tolerant, but its performance is best with consistent moisture. Water the plant when the top one to two inches of soil feel dry, providing a deep soaking. Container-grown plants require more frequent watering as they dry out more quickly.

This plant is a light feeder, and excessive fertilization can inhibit flower production. A single application of a balanced, general-purpose fertilizer in the spring as new growth begins is adequate for garden plants. For lantanas in pots, a monthly feeding with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer at half-strength is beneficial.

Avoid cutting back the plant in the fall, as this can harm its ability to survive the winter. The best time to prune is in early spring after the threat of frost has passed and new growth is emerging. At this point, you can remove any dead stems. A light trim during the growing season can encourage more blooms, and this lantana is also highly resistant to deer and rabbits.

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