Origin
West Indies
Ecological Impact
Listed as a Category I invasive species for all regions of Florida by the Florida Invasive Species Council. Invades areas and can become the dominant understroy, eliminating native flora and fauna. In Florida, Lantana strigocamara forms thickets in sunny open areas and can hybridize with some varieties of Lantana depressa (Langeland and Burks, 1998).
Description
A deciduous shrub that can grow up to 6 feet tall. Stems are square and may have tiny prickles. Leaves are simple and opposite with blunt-toothed (serrated) margins, and a strong, musty aroma. Blade base is broad and squared off or truncate. Flowers are multicolored in small clusters up to 4 cm. across. In a single cluster, flowers may be white to pink, yellow to orange to red, or may change colors over time. Fruit is round and green, which turns from purple to a blue-black color (Langeland and Burks, 1998).
Identification Tips
May be confused with the native Florida lantana (Lantana depressa). Look at the base of the leaf blades. Native Lantana has blades that are tapered, not truncate.
History
Introduced to Florida in the early 1800s as an ornamental plant.
Florida Range
Statewide
Prevention/Management Strategies
Do not plant. Glyphosate can be effective as a foliar spray, but high rates are required and will commonly result in significant grass damage around the plant. Fluroxypyr (CleanWave) will provide acceptable control if applied twice (a fall application followed by a spring application). More detailed integrated management recommendations can be found in the UF/IFAS publication Control of Lantana in Pastures1,2.
References
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Plant Directory. https://plant-directory.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/. Accessed Sept. 5, 2025. Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.
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B. Sellers, et al. Control of Lantana in Pastures. 2025. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG368 Accessed Sept. 16, 2025. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.