lantana

noun

lan·​ta·​na lan-ˈtä-nə How to pronounce lantana (audio)
: any of a genus (Lantana) of tropical shrubs or perennial herbs of the vervain family with showy heads of small bright flowers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web While the butterflies enjoy landing atop and feeding on the flat-faced lantana, they’re particularly attracted to the milkweed, yarrow and several varieties of butterfly bush (Buddleja). Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Nov. 2022 Larry Fossan, facility manager and landscape supervisor, replaced the lawn with xeriscaping: native plants like lantana, cactuses, Mexican feathergrass. Dan Zak, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Other guides include peony, redbud, azalea, elephant ear, coleus, lantana and coneflower. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 3 June 2021 Four best-in-class performers — carnation (Dianthus), African daisy (Osteospermum and Arctotis) and trailing lantana — are perfect choices for water-wise ground covers. Earl Nickel, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Sep. 2021 Trained into a tall tree shape, lantana can live a long, pleasant life in a deep pot, with full to partial sun and weekly watering. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 12 Feb. 2020 Who Came to Tea to local schoolchildren while sitting among life-size lantana elephant statues, per People. Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 18 July 2021 Brighten up your outdoor spaces this summer by planting coneflowers, calamint, rudbeckia, coleus and lantana, or opt to plan a container garden. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 14 July 2021 Last week, Camilla combined her support of the project with another one of her key focuses — literacy — by reading The Tiger Who Came to Tea to schoolchildren in St. James Park, where life-size lantana elephant statues are also on display. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 29 June 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lantana.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Italian dialect, viburnum

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lantana was in 1791

Dictionary Entries Near lantana

Cite this Entry

“Lantana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lantana. Accessed 2 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

lantana

noun
lan·​ta·​na lan-ˈtän-ə How to pronounce lantana (audio)
: any of a genus of tropical shrubs and herbs that have showy heads of small bright flowers

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