Wild Verbena Lantana montevidensis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Lantana sellowiana
- Phonetic Spelling
- lahn-TAHN-ah mon-tay-vid-EN-sis
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Trailing Lantana can be used as a climbing vine with support, or as a trailer or grown flat as a groundcover. In warmer climates, it can be used as erosion control on a slope or bank. This plant does best in full sun in sandy, slightly dry soil. It is tolerant of coastal conditions, such as heat, humidity, and salt spray. In Zone 8, plants are root hardy, they will die back to the ground in winter but if well mulched will resprout in spring.
Leaves and sap can be a skin irritant. If eaten, the leaves will cause pets and livestock to become ill. Lantana montevidensis forms berried fruits that, when unripe, are toxic.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Leaf spot and stem rot can be an issue. Powdery mildew can occur when grown in an area where full sun is not provided. Spider mites and whiteflies can cause damage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
white flowers - 'Lavender Swirl'
lavender and white flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Lavender Swirl'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
white flowers - 'Lavender Swirl'
lavender and white flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Lavender Swirl'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lantana
- Species:
- montevidensis
- Family:
- Verbenaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- tropical areas of South America
- Distribution:
- This plant has naturalized in eastern Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, New Caledonia and southern USA (i.e. California, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida). Where naturalized, it is primarily a weed of pastures, open woodlands, hillsides, railways, roadsides, embankments, disturbed sites and waste areas.
- Wildlife Value:
- Favorite among butterflies and other pollinators and a food source for birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Creeping
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Reddish-purple to purple 'berries' are 6-8 mm across and contain a single hard seed. Some cultivars do not produce seed (sterile).
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Circular head of purple-lavender to white funnel-shaped flowers with 1/2" wide lobed corollas. The individual flowers have white toward the base of the lilac petal lobes and a yellow throat and open from the outside of the inflorescence first towards the center.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green leaves have an unpleasant aroma when bruised and can be a skin irritant. The petioles are short (2-4mm). The leaves are ovate and finely toothed (crenate or serrate). The upper surfaces are rough and the lower surfaces are softly hairy.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- The stems (1-2 mm thick) are quadrangular but become woody (about 5 mm thick) and more or less cylindrical as they mature. They may grow to about 1 m long and form dense mats on the ground, sometimes producing roots at the nodes where they make soil contact.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
