Lantana (shrub verbena)

Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants, native to tropical regions of the Americas, Africa and existing as an imported plant in numerous areas, especially in the Australian-Pacific region. The genus includes both herbaceous plants and shrubs growing to 0.5-2 m tall. Their common names are shrub verbenas or lantanas.

Lantana's aromatic flower clusters (called umbels) are a mix of red, orange, yellow, or blue and white florets. Other colors exist as new varieties are being selected. The flowers typically change color as they mature, resulting in inflorescences that are two- or three-colored.

Some species are invasive, and are considered to be noxious weeds, such as in South Asia, Southern Africa and Australia. In the United States, lantanas are naturalized in the southeast, especially coastal regions of the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and the Gulf Coast where it is often known as "ham and eggs".


USE
Lantana species are widely cultivated for their flowers in tropical and subtropical environments and (as an annual plant) in temperate climates.

Most of the plants sold as lantana are either Spanish Flag (L. camara), Trailing Lantana (L. montevidensis, or hybrids between the two. L. camara is the most common species in cultivation. Numerous cultivars of this species exist, including 'Irene', 'Christine' and 'Dallas Red' (all tall-growing cultivars) and several recently introduced shorter ones. The shorter cultivars may flower more prolifically than the taller ones. L. montevidensis gives blue (or white) flowers all year round. Its foliage is dark green and has a distinct odor.

Though lantanas are generally hardy and, being somewhat toxic, usually rejected by herbivores, they may still become infested with pests, though pest control insecticidal soaps are harmful to these plants.

Lantana berries are edible when ripe though like many fruit are mildly poisonous if eaten while still green. Though it is strongly suspected that all Lantana leaves are toxic if eaten, L. rugosa is allegedly used as a leaf vegetable.

Though the stems even of larger Lantanas are thin, the wood is very tough and durable and thus useful for various handicrafts such as wickerwork. The Soliga of Karnataka (India) are nowadays utilizing Lantana in their wickercraft. The plant is an invasive weed there, and has displaced much of the bamboo which formerly was the preferred material for Soliga artisans. By selectively harvesting lantanas for their craft, they are again able to make a living, as well as assisting the recovery of the native ecosystem and reducing the risk of forest fires.


Species
Lantana pastazensis is a species of plant in the Verbenaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Lantana camara, also known as Spanish Flag, is native to tropical regions in Central and South America. Lantana camara has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant, it is considered an invasive species in many tropical areas.
It is sometimes known as "red (yellow, wild) sage", though it is not closely related to sage, and quite distrantly indeed (as angiosperms go) to sagebrush.
Lantana camara has become naturalized in tropical and warm regions worldwide. In the Kenyan highlands it grows in many areas that receive even minimal amounts of rainfall. It can be seen in the wild and along footpaths, deserted fields, and farms. Lantana has been naturalized in the United States, particularly in the Atlantic coastal plains, from Florida to Georgia, where the climate is close to its native climate, with high heat and humidity.

Lantana montevidensis is a species of lantana known by many common names, such as trailing lantana, weeping lantana, creeping lantana, small lantana, purple lantana or trailing shrubverbena. It is native to South America but it is present nearly worldwide as an introduced species, and in some areas, such as parts of Australia, a noxious weed. It is also kept as an ornamental plant for its plentiful colorful flowers. This is a small strongly-scented flowering shrub with oval-shaped green leaves. The inflorescence is a circular head of several purple to lavender to red funnel-shaped flowers with lobed corollas each nearly a centimeter wide. The fruit consists of a pair of nutlets surrounded by flesh somewhat like a berry. This plant is toxic to livestock.

Lantana rugosa

Lantana lilacina

Lantana microphylla

Lantana tiliifolia

Lantana trifolia

Lantana involucrata

Lantana urticoides – Texas Lantana

Lantana rugulosa

Lantana velutina – Velvet Lantana

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