Name: Lantana Purple Trailing
Brand: Texas Tree Farms
Price: 9.0 USD
Availability: InStock

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1 Gallon

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Purple Trailing Lantana, also known as Trailing Verbena, is a low-growing, fast-spreading perennial groundcover celebrated for its cascading growth habit and relentless production of vibrant blooms. Native to South America, this tough, woody-stemmed evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub forms a dense carpet of dark green, heavily textured leaves with distinctly serrated edges. When crushed, the foliage releases a pungent, citrus-herbal aroma caused by natural plant oils. Beginning in early spring and continuing non-stop until the first hard freeze—or year-round in frost-free regions—the plant is virtually blanketed in small, rounded clusters of delicate tubular flowers in a rich shade of lavender-purple with contrasting pale yellow or white throats.

In landscape design, Purple Trailing Lantana stays remarkably low, typically reaching just one to two feet in height while aggressively spreading three to six feet wide or more in a single season. Its trailing stems naturally root where they touch moist soil, making it a powerful natural erosion control agent for steep embankments, dry hillsides, and rocky retaining walls where it can spill gracefully over the edges. It is equally popular in raised beds, window boxes, and large hanging baskets where its weeping form creates a dramatic, colorful curtain.

Culturally, this species is built for harsh environments, thriving across USDA Zones 8b through 11 and surviving winter root temperatures down to 15°F. To maximize flower density and maintain a tight form, it requires full sun exposure (six or more hours of direct sunlight daily). It is extraordinarily forgiving of poor, rocky, or sandy soils, provided drainage is excellent. Once its root system is established, it exhibits exceptional drought and heat resistance, requiring only minimal supplemental water. Furthermore, its aromatic foliage makes it virtually immune to deer and rabbit browsing, while its nectar-rich blossoms act as a magnet for native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout the entire growing season.

Scientific Name	Lantana montevidensis (Purple Trailing Lantana / Trailing Verbena)
Foliage: Semi-evergreen to Evergreen	Low, spreading, cascading growth habit Leaves: Small, ovate, 0.5–1 inch long with serrated margins; dark green with a textured surface; distinctly aromatic/pungent when crushed. Flowers: Prolific clusters (umbels) of small, tubular, vibrant lavender-purple blossoms with pale yellow or white centers; blooms continuously from spring through frost (year-round in frost-free climates). Fruit: Small, fleshy, round berries ripening to dark purple-black; Toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and livestock if ingested. Seeds: Small, hard seeds contained inside the dark berries; easily spread by birds. Bark: Thin, woody, rough green to light gray-brown trailing stems.
Life Span: Perennial	3–10+ years in mild climates; grown as an annual in Zones 7 and colder
Mature Height	1–2 ft (12–24 inches)
Mature Width (Spread)	3–6+ ft (vigorously trailing and spreading)
Growth Rate	Fast (spreads rapidly in a single growing season)
USDA Zone / Chill Hours	Zones 8b–11 (Perennial; root-hardy down to 15°F to 20°F / -7°C to -9°C); No chill hours required

PLANT CARE & CHARACTERISTICS

Light Requirements: Full Sun (Requires 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily for maximum flowering; shade causes leggy growth and fewer blooms).

Water Requirements: Low to Moderate; water regularly during the first few weeks to establish, then very low moisture needs.

Drought Resistance: Exceptional (Thrives in high heat, humidity, and arid, dry soils once established).

Soil Type: Highly adaptable; thrives in poor, rocky, sandy, or clay soils; requires well-draining soil; pH 6.0–7.5.

Deer Resistance: Very High (Aromatic oils and toxic compounds in leaves make it highly unpalatable to deer and rabbits).

Pest / Disease Resistance: Highly resistant to most diseases and heat stress; occasional susceptibility to lantana lace bugs or whiteflies in stagnant heat.

Pollination: Insect-pollinated; outstanding nectar source for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Harvest: N/A (Ornamental groundcover/hanging basket plant; all parts, especially green berries, are toxic if eaten).

Pruning: Cut back hard by 1/3 in late winter/early spring to clean up dead foliage and encourage dense, bushier new growth. Light deadheading or trimming during summer promotes continuous heavy flower production.