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Native Plant Society of Texas

Velvet Lantana

Lantana velutina

Other common name(s):

Velvet Shrubverbena

Family:

Verbenaceae (Verbena Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Southern Texas Plains
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

3
to
6
ft.

Spread

3
to
6
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Light Requirement

Water Requirement

Native Habitat

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink, Violet, White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Unknown

Wildlife Benefit

Unknown

Maintenance

No other information available at this time.

Description

Blooms February-June
Previous Scientific Name(s): Lantana frutilla, Lantana hirta

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Fill small pots or seed trays with a well-draining seed starting mix. Water the mix thoroughly before sowing the seeds. Gently press the seeds into the moist soil, ensuring they are lightly covered. You can space the seeds a few inches apart for optimal growth. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Place the pots in a bright location, ideally with some shade. With a little patience, your seeds will begin to sprout after a few weeks. Once the seedlings have a few true leaves, you can transplant them into larger pots or outdoors in a prepared bed. After the Lantana velutina finishes blooming, you’ll find small, black seeds within the dried flower heads. Gently collect these precious seeds and store them in a cool, dry place. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-lantana-velutina/
Stem Cutting Fill a small pot with a well-draining rooting mix. Poke a hole in the soil and insert the cutting, ensuring that at least two nodes are buried. Use four wooden prop sticks and place them around the perimeter of the potting container. Put the clear plastic bag over the cutting, with the wooden supports ensuring the bag does not touch the stem cutting. Keep the rooting mix consistently moist, using a misting bottle or watering gently. Place the potted cutting in a shady location where it won’t be exposed to direct sunlight. Give it some patience, and within a few weeks, you’ll see new roots emerging. Choose a healthy, non-flowering stem from your Lantana velutina plant. Use a clean, sharp knife or pruning shears to make a 4-6 inch cutting, ensuring it has at least two sets of leaves. Remove the leaves from the bottom inch or so of the stem, exposing the bare stem. Apply rooting hormone to the cut end of the stem to promote root development. This step is not mandatory, but it can be helpful for success. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-lantana-velutina/ 2) https://www.thespruce.com/add-a-florida-touch-with-lantana-plants-2132142#toc-propagating-lantana
Seed Stratification Store dried seeds in a sealed container in a refrigerator until you can put them in a small pot for germination. Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours. Fill small pots with soilless potting mix, place one or two seeds in the center of each pot, and cover with the medium. Place the pot with the seeds in individual and sealable plastic bags. Keep the pots of seeds moist and in an environment where the temperature is between 70-75ºF. Remove the bag as soon as you see seedlings. This should take about a month. Plant outdoors or in an outdoor container. Pop seeds out of the pods, rinse them with water and dry them on paper towels for a couple of days. https://www.thespruce.com/add-a-florida-touch-with-lantana-plants-2132142#toc-propagating-lantana

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason