White Lantana, Wild Sage

Here in Tampa, I have two of these plants. They are dependable, attractive and great for the pollinators I highly recommend this. It's si...Read Moreckening that the big box stores are allowed to sell the invasive ones which destroy our ecosystems.

This is a small to medium shrub that is native to coastal hammocks, dunes, coastal scrub, barrier islands, tropical hammocks, pinelands a...Read Morend thickets in coastal central and southern Florida from around Hillsborough, Pinellas and Brevard counties south through the Keys (zones 9a through 11).

It is also found in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It may also sometimes grow as a large shrub or small tree.

The flowers are small, white with a yellowish center, and are in clusters. This plant is excellent for attracting wildlife, especially pollinating insects. It also provides cover for wildlife.

This is an excellent native alternative to the more commonly grown, invasive, non-native Lantana or Shrub Verbena (Lantana camara). However, like L. camara, L. involucrata is reported to be poisonous and should not be eaten or chewed on.

Lantana involucrata is superb for a wildlife garden.

Lantana involucrata differs from the invasive, non-native L. camara by having only white (not multicolored) flowers like L. camara. Also, L. involucrata is native and is not invasive like L. camara. Also, the flowers of L. involucrata are in smaller clusters than L. camara.

L. involucrata is also known as Buttonsage.