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Lantana montevidensis is often confused with:
Lantana camara Lantana camara flower
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Dianthus gratianopolitanus Dianthus gratianopolitanus
Lantana trifolia Flowers
Phlox nivalis Form
Lantana montevidensis has some common insect problems:
Whiteflies Found on Flowers and Foliage

Wild Verbena Lantana montevidensis

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', 'Lavender Swirl'
Tags:
#weeping#showy flowers#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#pink flowers#frost tender#salt tolerant#slopes#cottage garden#erosion control#stream banks#well-drained soil#creeping#spreading#woody shrub#tender perennial#trailing#lavender flowers#cascading flowers#Mediterranean#groundcover#sprawling#evergreen shrub#poor soils tolerant#sandy soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#tropical shrub#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#tropical feel#container plant#coastal plant#dense growth#annual
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
    white flowers
  • 'Lavender Swirl'
    lavender and white flowers
'Alba', 'Lavender Swirl'
Tags:
#weeping#showy flowers#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#pink flowers#frost tender#salt tolerant#slopes#cottage garden#erosion control#stream banks#well-drained soil#creeping#spreading#woody shrub#tender perennial#trailing#lavender flowers#cascading flowers#Mediterranean#groundcover#sprawling#evergreen shrub#poor soils tolerant#sandy soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#tropical shrub#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#tropical feel#container plant#coastal plant#dense growth#annual
  • 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
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, labored respiration; the leaves may cause dermatitis.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Pentacyclic triterpenoids
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems