Is Lantana Montevidensis Invasive?
Is Lantana Montevidensis Invasive?
In Florida, common lantana is a very invasive plant. While the Purple Trailing Lantana (Lantana Montevidensis) was originally thought to be a gentle species, it has subsequently been classified as an invasive plant and is no longer recommended for Florida-Friendly gardening.
While the purple flower clusters are lovely, the plant’s spreading habit causes issues in natural places.
If you already have this plant, consider removing it from the landscape or controlling it to keep it from escaping.
In addition to being invasive, all lantana types are toxic. Humans are poisoned by the berries, while animals are poisoned by the leaves.
Handling plants can also cause skin irritation or allergic responses in certain people. The plant grows almost everywhere as an imported species of garden and landscape plant, and it is now a noxious weed and invasive species in certain locations, such as sections of Australia and Hawaii.
Is Lantana Montevidensis A Perennial?
Lantana montevidensis, often known as trailing, weeping, or spreading lantana, grows as a perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11 and as an annual or container plant in colder areas.
Trailing lantana is appreciated as a ground cover or container plant due to its prostrate habit, growing just 8 to 24 inches tall but spreading to 4 feet or more, clusters of purple blooms, and tolerance to heat and dryness.
Excellent cultural care, including correct pruning, can assist guarantee that trailing lantana flourishes and looks good all year.
What Is Lantana Montevidensis?
Lantana montevidensis is a lantana species with many common names, including trailing lantana, weeping lantana, creeping lantana, small lantana, purple lantana, and trailing shrubverbena. This lantana is native to South America.
Lantana montevidensis is a small, strongly scented flowering low shrub with oval-shaped green leaves. It has a climbing vine form when supported, a trailing form when on edge, and a ground cover form when flat.
The inflorescence is a circular head of several purple to lavender to white funnel-shaped flowers with lobed corollas nearly a centimeter wide.
Yellow-flowered montevidensis is a misidentification that most often refers to the “New Gold” lantana hybrida, a hybrid between Camara and montevidensis.
How Do You Care For Lantana Montevidensis?
Lantana montevidensis plants seem herbaceous when young. Their stems turn woody as they age.
The plants trail and have multiple stalks covered with tiny, ovular leaves.
At the tips of the stalks, several spherical clusters of tiny blooms develop. There are six petals on each flower. Purple blooms are the most prevalent, although white, pink, and yellow flowers are all possible. Some cultivars have petite, spherical fruits. Lantana montevidensis need the following conditions to thrive:
Water Requirements
The purple trailing lantana does not require much water. Once established, this makes it low maintenance in this regard.
Keep in mind, though, that it cannot withstand drying out. So, water occasionally protects the soil from becoming entirely dry.
Furthermore, maintaining it in a container needs more watering than growing it on the ground. In containers, soil dries up faster, especially during the drier, warmer months.
Avoid overwatering, though. Excess wetness will cause difficulties for the plant because it does not like a lot of moisture.
It is also sensitive to powdery mildew, which is caused by dampness. This indicates you should avoid watering the plant.
Instead, immediately pour water onto the soil. This keeps its leaves dry. This is also less of an issue under strong sunshine, especially if there is sufficient air circulation. However, it gets more prone to shadow.
Soil Requirements
Well-drained soil is required for trailing lantana. Although sandy or loamy soil is preferred, well-drained clay soil can also be used.
Plants dislike persistently damp soil, so prevent any wet places. Trailing lantana is not fussy about soil pH; it prefers a range of 6.0 to 8.0.
Planting is simple once you’ve identified a good place and adjusted the soil. Cover the root ball of a transplant with dirt and water well.
Light Requirements
Lantana montevidensis thrives in full light. As a result, it is best to put it somewhere that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunshine every day.
The plant may also grow in partial shade. If you don’t have an area in your yard that receives 6 or more hours of direct sunshine every day, you can settle with anything that gets 2 to 6 hours.
However, it is worth mentioning that it produces more blossoms when grown in full light.
Because this blooming shrub may get thick, it is frequently used to provide shade for smaller plants.
Because it tolerates temperatures ranging from moderate to hot, the best location for your purple trailing lantana is anywhere facing south.
This provides the greatest natural light, including morning and afternoon sun.
You may also keep it facing east or west to get adequate sunshine throughout the day.
Temperature Requirements
Lantana montevidensis may be grown in USDA zones 8 to 10. As a result, it prefers moderate to very hot climates ranging from 15 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is not bothered by hot or severe sunshine or drought. This makes it perfect for areas that receive a lot of sunshine.
More significantly, if you meet these three conditions, you will be rewarded with its stunning hues.
The plant, as you might expect, dislikes cold weather. As a result, growing it on the ground is not a smart idea if you reside outside of zone 8.
The plant will be killed by frost and snow. Although many individuals in these areas preserve it yearly.
If you reside in zone 8, putting mulch on the soil is a good idea. This will help the plant to recover during the winter.
Another interesting fact about the plant is that it is salt tolerant. This allows it to be grown near beaches and other locations where the soil may become saturated with salt from water.
Fertilization Requirements
Lantana montevidensis only requires little feeding. That is unless your garden soil is deficient in organic matter, you do not need to feed the plant.
Even if you don’t have the best soil, most gardens will provide enough nutrients to keep the plant alive.
However, if your soil is poor, it is a good idea to fertilize it in the spring lightly. To do so, use a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 or 20-20-20.
If you’re growing the plant in a container, you’ll also need to add fertilizer since, aside from the first beginning dosage, potting soil lacks the nutrients found in garden soil. Following that, you’ll need to provide nutrition in the form of plant food.
Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks during the spring in this situation.
As always, start conservatively and work your way up if you discover the plant isn’t developing properly. Overfertilization is the worst thing you can do in this situation.
For one thing, too much fertilizer leads the plant to produce more foliage and fewer flowers. As a result, you will receive fewer flowers.
More significantly, over-fertilization raises the danger of root burn. As a result, it is also a good idea to water the plant well after feeding it.
This helps to diminish its concentration and disperse it evenly, ensuring that no section of the roots is too concentrated.
Humidity Requirements
In terms of humidity, trailing lantana isn’t picky. Plants may acquire fungal difficulties if humidity levels remain high for an extended length of time. Keep in mind, though, that it cannot withstand drying out. So, water occasionally protects the soil from becoming entirely dry.
Furthermore, maintaining it in a container needs more watering than growing it on the ground. In containers, soil dries up faster, especially during the drier, warmer months.
What Is The Common Name For Lantana Montevidensis?
Lantana montevidensis is a lantana species that goes by several names, including trailing lantana, weeping lantana, creeping lantana, little lantana, purple lantana, and trailing shrubverbena. This lantana comes from South America.
Lantana montevidensis is also grown as an ornamental plant for its abundant colourful lavender to purple blooms, as well as a drought-tolerant ground cover, woody vine, and trailing plant for pots and in the ground.
Flowers bloom most of the year in temperate areas, with yellow flowering and variegated leaf types also available.
How Do You Prune Lantana Montevidensis?
Lantana montevidensis grows quickly and aggressively. This characteristic makes it invasive in some areas. As a result, it is critical to prune it on a regular basis in order to keep it under control. This is the main reason you should cut your purple trailing lantana.
Lantana may expand and overrun other plants if not pruned. Trim the plant in the spring before it becomes too hot.
Because lantana grows fast, you may cut it back to approximately a foot from the ground.
Trimming lightly throughout the year may help promote new growth and larger blooms.
Trimming also promotes new growth, making your plant appear fuller. You can really chop it all the way down to a foot from the earth.
When trimming, be sure to remove any dead, damaged, or discolored leaves.
Is Lantana Montevidensis An Evergreen?
Because of its morphological characteristics, Lantana montevidensis is also known as the purple trailing lantana. It’s also known as Sellow’s lantana, weeping lantana, railing lantana, and a few more names.
Lantana montevidensis, a popular landscaping plant, is a spreading woody shrub that forms a thick and colourful groundcover with its evergreen foliage of strongly-scented, tiny, coarsely-toothed, somewhat hairy, dark green leaves.
The plant is a thick blooming shrub that may grow up to 20 inches long and 10 inches across. It crawls on the ground due to its trailing nature.
This trait, along with the plant’s vast spreading root system (5 feet), makes it a popular ground cover plant.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that dark green leaves surround its fragrant and attractive clusters of purple blooms.