Luscious® Lantanas

Lantana is one of our favorite landscaping plants for the bright pop of color it provides as well as for its tough-as-nails reputation. In the high summer we depend on it for extreme heat and drought tolerance but lantana blooms well into the fall—and these hot flower shades punch up seasonal autumn décor.

We grow the vigorous Luscious® series specifically for the fall. Look at all the blooms and the nice dense mound of foliage—these plants know how to fill in a space quickly. Depending on the cultivar they range from a little over a foot to 3 feet tall, with a spread of around 2–3 feet.

We like the striking variation of colors found on the sword-like foliage of ‘Field of Dreams’. Notice the graceful arch of the leaves; look closely and you’ll see that each one is tinged pink with a prominent white stripe running through it. For bold shape and texture this plant is a nice alternative—or addition to—the grasses and millet we normally see in autumn displays.

‘Field of Dreams’ performs well in sun or part shade. It is more compact and branching than other varieties and is relatively low-maintenance. You’ll find it will reach about 5 feet tall with a spread of around 1-1/2 feet; in containers it usually remains in the 3–4 foot range, height-wise. Tiny cobs with red-purple kernels pop up occasionally but it’s all about the foliage with this plant.

We use ‘Field of Dreams’ as the centerpiece in large patio pots and beds. Lower growing annuals with hot magenta flowers pair nicely with this ornamental—they bring out the pink tinge in the leaves. It’s eye-catching planted en masse, especially along a fence.

Brussels sprouts have gotten trendy of late—they’re turning up as appetizers and fancy side dishes in a lot of upscale restaurants. It’s nice that they’re finally getting some well-deserved recognition—Brussels sprouts are full of nutrients, particularly vitamin C. Leafy greens add a healthy boost to our diet and these “miniature cabbages”—our archrivals as children—are actually quite tasty, especially when eaten fresh from the garden. 

Our Brussels sprouts are available in the flat 1203—we have two varieties:

• ‘Franklin’—the earliest maturing variety; firm, uniform sprouts on tall plants; stems are less woody so it’s possible to harvest the whole stem.
• ‘Royal Marvel’—dark green sprouts are evenly spaced on the stalk, making them easier to harvest; resistant to tip burn; sturdy, robust, and sprouts hold well in the field.