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Federal Noxious Weed
TDA Noxious Weed
TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species
Invasive Plant Atlas of the US

NOTE: means species is on that list.

Lantana camara


Largeleaf lantana

Synonym(s): Lantana aculeata L.
Family: Verbenaceae (Verbena family)
Duration and Habit: Perennial Herb


Photographer: Richard Old
Source: XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org

Description

Lantana is a deciduous scrambling shrub that can grow to 6 feet or more in height.
Stems are square, haired, and often armed with small prickles.
Leaves: Blades are opposite, simple, serrate, ovate in shape, and are commonly 6 inches long by 2 ½ inches wide. Leaf texture resembles sandpaper or a cats tongue. Flowers are small, multicolored, stalked, and form dense flat-topped clusters approximately 1.5 inched wide.
Flowers darken in color with age, generally changing from white to pink or lavender, or yellow to orange or red.
Fruit is a round and small (0.2 inches wide) 2-seeded drupe that is initially green, then will change to a deep purple and eventually black.

Native Lookalikes: Lantana urticoides (Texas Lantana)


Credit: Lisa Henry, Wildflower Center Digital Library

Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides)

Leaves opposite, but only up to 2 1/2 inches long, broadly ovate, pointed at the tip, flattened at the base, upper surface rough to the touch.



Ecological Threat: The non-native Lantana (Lantana camara/strigocamara) is usually most recognized by its clusters of bright orange, red, and yellow flower clusters. Many of the invasive lantanas end up within the environment or disrupting agriculture production.

Biology & Spread:

History: Lantana is an unbelievably common landscape plant, although, not all are invasive species. There are native (Lantana urticoides) and sterile lantanas available at landscape nurseries.

U.S. Habitat: Lantanas quickly invade recently disturbed landscapes and appear rather quickly in agriculture settings.

Distribution

U.S. Nativity: Introduced to U.S.

Native Origin: West Indies

U.S. Present: AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands

Distribution in Texas:

Mapping

Invaders of Texas Map: Lantana camara
EDDMapS: Lantana camara
USDA Plants Texas County Map: Lantana camara

Invaders of Texas Observations

List All Observations of Lantana camara reported by Citizen Scientists

Native Alternatives

Management

Sterile varieties can easily be found, but if you ever notice a Lantana camara produces tiny, black seeds, it should be removed immediately.

Cultural: Regularly scouting areas to help prevent invasion of Lantana will be necessary, especially if it is an area that has recently been disturbed. Removing seeds will help, but scouting and removal of plants will reduce the likelihood of large areas being overwhelmed by this invasive plant. Mechanical: Hand removal of invasive Lantanas is easy to do. Digging up and removing parts of the plant will help reduce its spread – especially if it is done before the plant creates seeds. In large areas, burning can help reduce the spread of Lantana.

Chemical: Simply spraying lantana with herbicides is not an effective treatment. Mowing or cutting lantanas and quickly applying herbicides, like Fluroxypyr or imazapyr, is the most effective chemical control method. This is the only preferred control method when preventative, cultural, or mechanical controls are ineffective.

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE PESTICIDE LABEL CAREFULLY, FOLLOW ALL MIXING AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND WEAR ALL RECOMMENDED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND CLOTHING. CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE USE REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. MENTION OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.

Text References

Langeland, K.A., et al. 2008. Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas, Second Edition. University of Florida-IFAS Pub SP 257.

University of Florida: Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/223)

Online Resources

https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nassauco/2021/10/03/invasion-of-the-landscape-snatchers-lantana-lantana-camara/

Search Online

Google Search: Lantana camara
Google Images: Lantana camara
NatureServe Explorer: Lantana camara
USDA Plants: Lantana camara
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States: Lantana camara
Bugwood Network Images: Lantana camara

Last Updated: 2024-02-02 by ARMO,TISI
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