Texas Wildbuds

Lantana velutina

(Velvet Lantana)

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Lantana velutina, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 3971

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Lantana velutina, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 4398

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Lantana velutina, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 3973

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Lantana velutina, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 3983

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Lantana velutina, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 4396

Scientific Name Lantana velutina USDA PLANTS Symbol LAVE4
Common Name Velvet Lantana, Velvet Shrub-verbena ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 32184
Family Verbenaceae (Verbena) SEINet
Reference		 Click Here
Description Habitat: Dry soils in open woods, scrub thickets and mesas of the South Texas Plains.
Plant: Diffusely-branched shrub up with stems up to 6-1/2 feet long, having a rhubarb odor; branches are slender, unarmed and densely covered with short pubescent or woolly hairs.
Leaves: Opposite, ovate or elliptic-ovate leaves, 3/8 to 1-5/8 inches long and 1/4 to 1-1/8 inches wide on petioles up to 3/8-inch long; margins are regularly crenate (toothed); upper surfaces have deep reticulate (net-like) veins and are velvety; lower surfaces either covered with woolly hairs or velvety.
Inflorescence: Small hemispheric or elongated clusters (up to 3/8-inch across) arising from leaf axils on peduncles 3/8 to 3 inches long; each head with many tubular blossoms with white corollas, becoming lavender or pinkish with age, with 4 lobes, lower lobe larger, and yellow center.
Bloom Period: February to June.
References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and SEINet.
 BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key		 Texas Status:
Native
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Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County

© Tom Lebsack 2026

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