Creeping Lantana

Description:

Lantana montevidensis, also commonly known as "trailing lantana" and "weeping lantana", is a low-growing, long-lived, shrubby plant forming dense mats of vegetation over the ground. It belongs to the family Verbenaceae. The species is widely naturalised in eastern Australia, and is most common and widespread in the coastal and sub-coastal districts of south-eastern and central Queensland. It has attractive flower heads of purple and white and is often cultivated as an ornamental, but is also drought tolerant groundcover and its sprawling habit makes it an effective erosion control plant. It is planted for that purpose in other parts of the world, but in Australia it is considered a noxious weed and invasive species, and is yet another imported pest. It is also toxic to livestock.

Habitat:

Spotted in a well-shaded gully at Gold Creek Reservoir, which lies just to the west of Brisbane. Freshwater lake, and dense native bushland vegetation of eucalypt forests and subtropical rainforests. Primarily a weed of pastures, open woodlands, hillsides, railways, roadsides, embankments, disturbed sites and waste areas.