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Lantana trifolia is often confused with:
Lantana camara Lantana camara flower
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Lantana montevidensis Lantana montevidensis
Phlox P. douglasii- creeping phlox
Verbena canadensis Verbena canadensis

Three Leaved Lantana Lantana trifolia

Other Common Name(s):

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', 'Lavender Popcorn'
Tags:
#showy flowers#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#frost tender#spring flowers#cottage garden#upright form#showy fruits#moist soil#well-drained soil#spreading#summer flowers#tender perennial#lavender flowers#whorled#fruits fall#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#evergreen shrub#poor soils tolerant#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#tropical feel#coastal plant#annual
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Fruity Pebbles'
  • 'Lavender Popcorn'
'Fruity Pebbles', 'Lavender Popcorn'
Tags:
#showy flowers#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#frost tender#spring flowers#cottage garden#upright form#showy fruits#moist soil#well-drained soil#spreading#summer flowers#tender perennial#lavender flowers#whorled#fruits fall#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#evergreen shrub#poor soils tolerant#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#tropical feel#coastal plant#annual
  • 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