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LANTANA montevidensis

Image of Lantana montevidensis

Felder Rushing

Family

Verbenaceae

Botanical Name

LANTANA montevidensis

Plant Common Name

Trailing Lantana

General Description

The pretty violet-blue blooms of trailing lantana add cool color to warm, sunny gardens. This everblooming, evergreen tropical shrub is grown as a tender perennial in temperate zones. It is native throughout the tropical Americas and able to withstand high heat and periods of drought. It has a shrubby, spreading habit, so it’s able to spill over containers, walkways and garden retaining walls.

The dark green leaves of trailing verbena are small, leathery and have a strong, rather unpleasant fragrance when crushed. It will bloom continuously if growing conditions are favorable. Its rounded flower clusters are comprised of many violet-blue to lilac flowers that are small and tubular. These often have white or yellow eyes and are highly attractive to butterflies. The fruits that follow are blue-black and berry-like.

Hot, full sun and perfectly drained soil are required for good garden performance. Trailing lantana can withstand hard pruning and is quite drought tolerant and trouble free once established. In tropical zones, it may be grown as attractive spreading shrub or used as a quick to spread everblooming groundcover for fleshing out beds and borders, banks and slopes. In areas with cold winters it can be planted as a bedding or container annual.

This species self-sows and is considered invasive in some tropical and subtropical areas.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 4

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    8 - 15

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Tender Perennial

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m

  • Width

    2'-6' / 0.6m - 1.8m

  • Bloom Time

    Indeterminate

  • Native To

    South America, Argentina, Brazil, Chile

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Pollution, Drought

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Drought Tolerant, Average Water

  • Habit

    Spreading

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White, Lavender, Blue Violet

  • Flower Color Modifier

    Bicolor

  • Fruit Color

    Indigo, Black

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Dark Green

  • Bark Color

    Green, Tan

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    Yes

  • Fragrant Foliage

    Yes

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    Yes

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Bark Texture

    Smooth

  • Usage

    Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    Sometimes

  • Attracts

    Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    No