You're replacing a native with two non-natives; you'll certainly get some tongue-wagging for that. Nonetheless, Plumbago does attract butterflies but I'm not so sure about the yellow lantana. And, in terms of color, the white and purple will look much better with the blue flowers of the Plumbago than the yellow.

If you can find them, mix in a can of white and one of red plumbago with the blue - very patriotic.

Is lantana a native? I thought it was always considered an invasive foreigner except for the variety with the tiny almost invisible green flowers?

There is no possibility of planting anything with the existing lantana as it chokes everything that comes anywhere near it, and has been in that bed for many years.

The usual white and lavender trailing lantanas are not native, if that's what you are talking about. They do run kind of wild and rangy at times, but they aren't invasive. For my money, the gold mound yellow is prettier in many situations and easier to keep trim and tidy. And in my yard, butterflies are all over it. I say do what appeals to you. Just don't plant the big yellow & orange or pink and cream ones that spread into the wild. There are MANY varieties now that don't produce fruit for the birds to carry off and plant elsewhere.

Good luck!

Marcia

L. involucrata with the white flowers is a native along with L. depressa. All the other species are invasive exotics.

Lantana montevidensis is the usual lavender trailing lantana found in most stores. It also comes in white. It is not native, nor invasive. There are many lantanas that do not produce fruit today, and do not spread from where they are planted. You can plant them without feeling guilty.

Marcia

Thanks, everyone. The white and lavender are identical except for the flower colors, so I'm fairly sure the white isn't the native variety. The flowers don't look quite like the involucrata I've seen, and I know it was planted by the second owner or later, so it wasn't here when the place was built, and probably came from HD or equivalent. The first owner only had red, yellow, orange flowers in that bed.

Lantana involucrata is distinctly different than the box store type white Lantana montevidensis. L. involucrata is a tall lantana and the flowers are about half the size of L. montevidensis, it also produces tiny berries.

Regardless of the variety, lantana is a must have if you want to attract butterflies.