Question: Some of my lantanas have come back after the winter. Are they truly perennials, or should I use them as annuals?

Answer: That depends on the varieties and also on where you live in Texas. Trailing lavender lantana and its white variant seem to be the least winter-hardy. Other trailing types such as Gold Mound and Silver Mound are slightly more hardy, and the shrubby types are the most durable to the cold. All types seem to come back better if you cut them back to the ground the next morning after they freeze, then mulch over their crowns with 2 or 3 inches of compost. Lantanas are very late to sprout out, often waiting until 3 to 4 weeks after the last freeze. Leave enough of the stems in place when you prune them in late fall so that you’ll know where they are when spring planting times arrive.