Shrub Verbena Lantana trifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Shrub Verbena:
- Phonetic Spelling
- lan-TAY-nah try-FOH-lee-a
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Three leaved Lantana is a tropical shrub from south and central America and Mexico that grows 2-5 feet tall. In NC it can be grown as an annual or bought inside for the winter. Cuttings can also be taken and brought inside to start for the next season.
The leaves grow in a whirl of three and the blooms are clusters of lavender flowers that occur during the growing season. The fruit is ornamentally significant and is an elongated popcorn-like spike of lavender fruits.
This plant does best in average well-drained soils and tolerates poor soil.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Fruity Pebbles'
- 'Lavender Popcorn'
- 'Fruity Pebbles'
- 'Fruity Pebbles', 'Lavender Popcorn'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Fruity Pebbles'
- 'Lavender Popcorn'
- 'Fruity Pebbles'
- 'Fruity Pebbles', 'Lavender Popcorn'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lantana
- Species:
- trifolia
- Family:
- Verbenaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Crushed leaves are made into a tea and used to treat rheumatism, generalized body pains and indigestion. The leaves are also used to treat colds and ringworm. The roots are used to treat eczema. Stems, wood is used as fuel and for making brooms.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- West Indies, Mexico, Central and South America
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar producing flowers attract pollinators, especially butterflies. Berries are a food source for songbirds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Edibility:
- Fully ripe (deep blue or black) berries are reported to be edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- elongated popcorn-like spikes of lavender fruits
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Up to 2-inch flattened clusters of small 5-petaled lavender flowers
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green leaves are up to 4 inches long, rough-textured with serrated margins that grow in whorls of 3.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- 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:
- Humans and animals may have allergic reactions if this plant is consumed or by coming into contact with sap from bruised or broken plant parts.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Pentacyclic triterpenoids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
