Lantana montevidensis - Purple trailing lantana

Approximately 100 to 150 species of Lantana are native to tropical America and Africa. This species is native to southern South America. It can make a dense groundcover with a long season of flower production. It seems to flower best in the cooler months and flowers well in part shade. In north Florida, its flowers are visited by butterflies but it does not produce fruits and seeds. A related species, Lantana camara, is considered an exotic pest plant in Florida and other parts of the world.

This is an easy plant to grow in north Florida. It grows best in sun or partly shade in a well-drained soil.