Velvet Lantana
Lantana velutina
Last reviewed: August 2026
Toxicity unknown
Velvet Lantana (Lantana velutina) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
6"–24" H × 6"–18" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
TX
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Velvet Lantana is a low-growing native wildflower with soft, velvety leaves and small clustered blooms. This compact annual typically stays under 2 feet tall and works well as a colorful groundcover or border plant in sunny areas.
In an HOA neighborhood
Velvet Lantana is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
- Requires seasonal replanting
- May have messy dieback
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial pollinators with its nectar-rich flowers. The seeds provide food for small birds and wildlife.
Common questions
- How much sun does Velvet Lantana need?
- Velvet Lantana grows best in full sun conditions.
- Where is Velvet Lantana native?
- Velvet Lantana (Lantana velutina) is native to TX, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Velvet Lantana HOA-friendly?
- Velvet Lantana is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Velvet Lantana? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz