In frost free climates, it can spread aggressively, so check your local regulations.

Does it need deadheading?

It is self cleaning, meaning it drops old flowers on its own, but a light trim keeps it tidy.

Plant guide

Trailing Lantana.

Lantana montevidensis

Pronounced lan-TAH-nah mon-teh-vih-DEN-sis

Also known as Purple Trailing Lantana, Trailing Shrubverbena, creeping lantana, purple lantana, small lantana, trailing lantana, weeping lantana, wild verbena

creeping lantana — Photo by zebedeugalinha (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Trailing lantana is a lovely, low growing shrub that loves to spill over garden walls or containers. It produces clusters of tiny, vibrant flowers that attract butterflies all season long. This plant is a fantastic choice if you want a hardy, sun loving ground cover.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial shrub
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 8 to 11
Bloom time: Spring to first frost

Care

Plant this in a spot with plenty of sun to keep it blooming well. Watch for wilting leaves as a sign it needs a drink, but make sure the soil drains quickly to avoid root rot. A light trim keeps it looking tidy and encourages more flowers.

Watering: Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems occasionally to maintain a compact shape.
Repotting: Repot when the roots fill the container or the plant stops growing.
Soil: Well draining, fertile soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -4 to 38°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water running straight through the soil without soaking in

Safety

People: Ingestion can cause gastrointestinal distress, and contact with the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children because the berries look like small blueberries and are toxic if eaten.
Contact allergens: The leaves have tiny, stiff hairs that can cause mechanical skin irritation or contact dermatitis.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is generally not considered a major allergen.
Edibility: All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, especially the unripe berries.

How to identify it

Trailing or spreading growth habit
Small, tubular flowers in clusters
Rough, textured, ovate green leaves
Strong, aromatic scent when crushed

Height: 0.3 to 0.5m
Spread: 0.9 to 1.8m
Leaves: dark green, semi-evergreen
Flowers: lavender, purple, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: dark blue, black, late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

Whitefly · Small sap sucking insects that congregate on the undersides of leaves.
Powdery mildew · A fungal infection that appears as white dusty spots on the foliage.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, early summer
Overwintering: In colder areas, bring containers indoors to a sunny window or treat as an annual. In mild climates, mulch the base to protect the roots from hard freezes.
In containers: It is excellent for containers and hanging baskets, needing at least a 30 cm pot for healthy growth.

Stem cuttings

Take a 10 cm cutting from a non flowering stem in summer.
Remove the lower leaves and dip the end in rooting hormone.
Place in moist potting mix and keep in bright, indirect light until rooted.

Pair this with other heat loving perennials that do not mind drying out between waterings.

Grows well with

Salvia · They share similar water and sun requirements while providing a nice contrast in flower shape.
Lantana · They look great together in large beds, though they have different growth habits.

Similar species

Common Lantana · It is a larger, more upright relative with a wider range of flower colors.

Science

Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Lantana
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: South America, specifically Uruguay and Argentina.
Conservation: It is considered invasive in some tropical regions outside its native range.

It grows in open, sunny areas where its trailing stems can root at the nodes to colonize space.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: groundcover, hanging baskets, container plant, pollinator garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it invasive?: In frost free climates, it can spread aggressively, so check your local regulations.
Does it need deadheading?: It is self cleaning, meaning it drops old flowers on its own, but a light trim keeps it tidy.

Where the name comes from

The genus name comes from the Latin word for the viburnum, which has similar leaves, while the species name montevidensis refers to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.

Good to know

It is commonly called trailing lantana because of its low, spreading growth habit.
The flowers are actually clusters of tiny blooms that change slightly in shade as they age.
It is extremely drought tolerant once established in the landscape.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on October 29, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.