Question

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The text above is a follow-up to ...the lantana pruning.  We live in Surprise, Arizona just outside of Phoenix.  Hope that helps.
Alan

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We have three types/colors of lantana.  Yellow, purple and orangey/red.
We generally prune back (all the way back) the yellow after frost kills the leaves and flowers usually in Jan/Feb. They recover nicely.  I trimmed back a purple plant around the same time and almost killed it.  I am afraid to prune any of these plants except the yellow ones.  Any advice when to prune the purple and orangey red bushes?
Alan Killian
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Hey Alan,
Thanx for your question.  Tell me please, in which state and county are you?  Or, what country.  This will help me answer your question effectively.
thx,
Tom

Answer
Hey Alan,
Thanx for the follow-up.  I lived in the Phoenix area back in the late 70s and early 80s.  Thanx for the additional info on the lantanas.  You may have had a weak plant in regard to the purple plant.  I am now in Kansas and we use Lantanas as annuals here and I have overwintered them in the basement.  It's not cost effective to do that because they are sold so cheaply here and we have a long warm season.

The basics of pruning on lantanas is to wait until you know you're going to have a frost.  Lantanas are native to tropical and sub-tropical climates.  Arizona borders on a sub-tropical climate in the Phoenix area.  I would not prune my lantanas back severely.  If they look messy by November, clean them up with a nice but not severe trim.  Wait and see when it starts to warm up in February. If you prune in the spring it will delay blooming.

Your lantanas should do fine after a little (not severe) pruning in October or November.

I hope this helps.
Tom