Form: shrub — perennial
Status: present in WA
Native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and tropical South America, lantana has naturalised around Kununurra and at scattered sites from Geraldton to Albany, but is most common around Perth along parts of the Swan and Canning Rivers. Lantana is a Weed of National Significance.
Appearance
Lantana is a perennial shrub, usually one to two metres high, but it can reach four metres.
Stems: Long, often highly branched, square in cross section and hairy when young. The weedy forms usually have small sharp prickles along the angles.
Leaves: The oval leaves can be up to 100 millimetres long and are carried in opposite pairs up the stem. They are rough, due to being covered with small stiff bristles, and give off a strong smell if crushed.
Flowers: The small flowers occur in compact heads with 20-40 flowers in each head. They can be yellow, pink, orange, red, or combinations of these colours.
Seeds: After flowering, lantana produces many small black berries, each five to seven millimetres in diameter and containing one seed.
Agricultural and economic impact
An environmental weed in the south west land division, and a weed of rangelands in the north of WA. Lantana invades areas along rivers and near wetlands, usually when birds spread the seeds.
It is toxic to livestock.
Declared pest category
The Western Australian Organism List (WAOL) contains information on the area(s) in which this pest is declared and the control and keeping categories to which it has been assigned in Western Australia (WA). Search for lantana and lantana hybrids in WAOL using the scientific name Lantana.
Requirements for land owners/occupiers and other persons
Requirements for land owners/occupiers and other persons if this pest is found can be sourced through the declared plant requirements link.
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| MyPestGuide™ Reporter | Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) |
Control method
Control methods for this declared plant can be found through the lantana control link.