Tubular, reddish-orange flowers are produced virtually every day of the year. The flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies. The leaves drop in early winter, and the branches remain bare until late winter or early spring. Butterflies are drawn to the flowers, while birds, especially mockingbirds, feed on the fruit. The leaves are the larval food for the orange-barred sulphur, a common butterfly in our area.
Birds occasionally feed on the caterpillars.
With so much insect activity, birds dart around, feeding on the bounty. Fruit-eating birds are attracted to the small, bright red fruit. Lantana occurs in several native species. All are superb butterfly-attractors, and birds feed on the fruit of all. All have white flowers that attract butterflies, especially ruddy daggerwings.