What are these, and can I encourage them to grow and fill up my whole front yard?

[joeekaitis]

I've begun watering my front yard, hoping that whatever came up would resemble a lawn, and these began growing at the base of the tree in the yard.

We like them so much that we're wondering if there's a way to coax them into spreading and perhaps even grow into a carpet that'll blanket the whole yard.

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have for a congenital brown thumb.

 

[58limited]

That looks like Lantana. They will take over an area if given a chance and they make a beautiful hedge. They come in an orange flower too. Warning: Lantana is very toxic to pets. Most pets will not eat them, but I've occasionally seen some cases of lantana ingestion - it is usually fatal.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Sure does look like Lantana

We've had some with yellow flowers show up here in MA at Lowes. They were in hanging baskets like annuals are usually peddled, but they were marked as perennial. I suspect in southerly climates they might just be ever-growers or perennials. They didn't come up again here.

Chuck

 

[58limited]

In the south they are a perennial. They can grow quite large and they make good hedges. They are hard to kill if you try to get rid of them.

 

[brisnat81]

Over here

Lantana is a noxious weed, due to the damage it does when it takes over. IE Everything else dies.

If you water and fertilize it'll take over your yard in no time.

 

[launderess]

Pipe:

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cach...wiki/Lantana+Lantana&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us