Richard Old,
XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org
Family: Verbenaceae (Verbena family)
Synonym(s): Lantana aculeata L.
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Listed by:
Invasive Plant Atlas of the US: 1
Federal Noxious Weed: 0
TDA Noxious Weed: 0
TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species: 0
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.
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.
Biology & Spread:
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.
US Habitat: Lantanas quickly invade recently disturbed landscapes and appear rather quickly in agriculture settings.
Distribution
US Nativity: Introduced to U.S.
Native Origin: West Indies
US States: AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands
Resembles/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.
Listing Source
Texas Department ofAgriculture Noxious Plant List
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Prohibited Exotic Species
Invaders Program
Federal Noxious Weed
Union of Concerned Scientists
United States Forest Service Southern Research Station
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)
Data Source
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nassauco/2021/10/03/invasion-of-the-landscape-snatchers-lantana-lantana-camara/
Last Updated: 2024-02-02 by ARMO,TISI