Leaf miners are also a common pest of lantana. Sign up for our newsletter. If your lantana plant is drooping you may wonder, “Is my lantana dying.” In most cases, the cause is easy to deduce and getting the plant back on track should just take a little time and TLC. To control the leaf spot viburnum diseases, follow the same practices for powdery mildew control. Download Garden Answers Plant Identifier App Today! 2/05 Lantana and Verbenaerbena At first these plants appear to be problem-free perennials that you can plant, water until estab- lished, and then leave alone. Even if the plant is looking a bit peaked, it can still be salvaged by good watering practices and a soil change if the medium in which they grow doesn’t drain well. Overhead watering can exacerbate the problem. Spots may begin small, but enlarge or merge, and may be reddish to grayish brown. The nymphs are also tiny, but look like small, rounded golden orbs. The lantana plant is native to the West Indies, but was introduced the the southeastern United States, specifically in Florida. Lantana spp.. The second is spider mite which are minute insects that are not always visible to the eye. Prune out infected tissue and avoid overhead watering. Lantana is susceptible to powdery mildew if grown in shade. In-ground plants can be replanted as well. One is whiteflies. Leaves Are Turning Brittle And Brown On Lantana - The leaves on my trailing lantana are getting brittle and turning brown. Heavy infestations can cause defoliation. Much like aphids and mealybugs, whiteflies secrete honeydew, causing plants to be covered with the sticky substance (see also Extension publication L … If the plant’s leaves are sticky or have blackish gray fungal growth on them, this could be the cause of wilting. With both viburnum diseases, rake up and destroy any fallen leaves. The leaves have started curling up and they are very brittle. In other words if the winter temperature ever gets below 25 degrees or so, the Tangerine Lantana will not survive. Excess moisture and warm temperatures encourage spore formation. Other Problems and Diseases of Lantana Plants You’ll find that there are a few other diseases that affect lantana. Water after repotting. Prune to remove dead wood. Lantana Species: trifolia Family: Verbenaceae Uses (Ethnobotany): Crushed leaves are made into a tea and used to treat rheumatism, generalized body pains and indigestion. Leaf miners are also a common pest of lantana. Lantanas are available in a rainbow of colors, and more are being introduced all the time.Varieties may grow low to the ground as a plant or get a little taller like a shrub. How can I save this plant? These spots spread quickly from leaf to leaf by water and insects, so treat the infection as soon as you notice it to prevent the spots from infecting the entire plant. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Although lantana is generally a very low maintenance plant with few problems, some may occur, especially in improper growing conditions. Lace bugs are the most common lantana pests in many regions. Use fertilizer labeled "slow release" or "controlled release" to avoid runoff. These small, flying insects are common in the late summer and both the adult and the nymphs feed on the leaves of a number of perennials, including lantana. The nymphs are also tiny, but look like small, rounded golden orbs. Now the leaves have developed yellow spots. When the lantana's leaves and flowers wilt and rot, this disease could be the cause. In both cases, lanatana can sustain losing all or most of its leaves to these insects and recover completely if kept well watered. Treatment is very difficult because these insects are mobile, but insecticidal soap is highly effective when used often and before infestations become numerous.