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Lantana
- Lantana flower and leaf
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- Lantana
General information
A native from the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Central and South America, lantana (Lantana camara) is a heavily branched shrub that can grow as compact clumps, dense thickets and as scrambling and climbing vines.
Lantana is a Class 3 declared plant under Queensland legislation and a Weed of National Significance (WONS).
| Scientific name |
Lantana camara |
| Impacts |
- forms dense thickets that smother native vegetation
- thickets are impenetrable for animals, people and vehicles
- is spread mostly by people and fruit-eating birds
- poisonous to stock
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| Description |
- stems are square with small, recurved prickles
- leaves are bright green, about 6 cm long, with roundtoothed edges and grow opposite one another along the stem
- flowers vary in colour from pale cream to yellow, white, pink, orange, red, lilac and purple, about 2.5 cm in diameter
- fruits are glossy, rounded, fleshy, purplish-black when ripe
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| Habitat and distribution |
- covers 4 million hectares throughout most coastal and sub-coastal areas of eastern Australia, from North Queensland to southern New South Wales
- has spread into the Northern Territory and Western Australia and has the potential to invade Victoria
- grows in a wide variety of habitats, from exposed dry hillsides to wet, heavily shaded gullies
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| Control |
- size, density and geographic location of infestations are important considerations before choosing which control methods to use
- a combined approach of different control methods including mechanical, chemical, fire and biological with land management practices is most effective
- see the lantana fact sheet for further information
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| Declaration details |
- a declared Class 3 species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
- supply or sale prohibited
- may require removal from environmentally significant areas
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| Further information |
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Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 16 January 2009
