Biological Name:
Lantana: Lantana camara
Natural Habitat:
Lantana: The natural habitat for lantana is tropical and subtropical regions. It is native to the Americas, but has been introduced to many other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Description:
Lantana is a type of flowering plant that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Verbenaceae family which also includes plants such as verbena and teak. Lantana is an annual or perennial plant that produces small yellow or orange flowers and clusters of seeds. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas lantana is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do Lantanas come back every year?
A: Lantana is a summer annual/perennial. In some parts of the state it comes back easier than in others. It is rare to see any lantana resprouting above ground. Usually it will come back from the crown, with the upper portions burned back by winter, so cutting back the dead foliage before new growth begins is beneficial.
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Q: Should lantana be cut back?
A: In areas where lantana is winter hardy but dies to the ground, pruning lantana stems in spring is vital to maintaining plant health. Cut stems back to 6 or 12 inches tall. After pruning lantana, water and fertilize to encourage new growth.
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Q: Do lantanas keep bugs away?
A: The repellent effect of Lantana camara flowers was evaluated against Aedes mosquitoes. Lantana flower extract in coconut oil provided 94.5% protection from Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti. The mean protection time was 1.9 h.
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Q: Should lantana be deadheaded?
A: The plants should be deadheaded to encourage continuous bloom. You can clip the individual faded flowers, or trim the whole plant with hedge clippers. Lantana is a good choice for hot, dry areas. Lantana can be grown from seed or cuttings.
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Q: How poisonous are Lantanas?
A: At least 15 of the 29 described taxa of Lantana camara are known to be toxic to livestock. About 1% body weight of green leaves will induce poisoning. All parts of the plant are toxic including the ripe black fruits.
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Q: Is it safe to touch lantana?
A: Yes, all parts of the lantana plant are toxic and poisonous. These plants should not be planted where children or pets can come in contact with them.
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Q: Is lantana toxic to dogs?
A: Lantana (Lantana camara) All parts of this invasive shrub are poisonous, especially the leaves and green berries. This plant can be fatal to children, dogs and horses. Oleander (Nerium oleander) This entire shrub is poisonous, including the smoke.
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Q: Is lantana good for anything?
A: Studies conducted in India have found that Lantana leaves can display antimicrobial, fungicidal and insecticidal properties. L. camara has also been used in traditional herbal medicines for treating a variety of ailments, including cancer, skin itches, leprosy, chicken pox, measles, asthma and ulcers.
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Q: Why is lantana toxic to humans?
A: Lantana plant contains lantadene A and B (the major toxins involved in poisoning) as well as other structurally and toxicologically related pentacyclic triterpene acids, including reduced lantadene A, dihydrolantadene A, and icterogenin.
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Q: Why is lantana so invasive?
A: Lantana forms dense thickets that exclude native species, leading to its complete dominance of the understorey and eventually the canopy. It has also been estimated that graziers spend $17.1 million a year on lantana control and lose more than $104 million in production due to lantana invasion.
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Q: Is lantana considered invasive?
A: Lantana montevidensis is also naturalized in California and occurs in a few of the climate areas which match California: Southern Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It is also considered invasive in Florida, Hawaii, New Caledonia, Australia and New Zealand.
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Q: What is the problem with lantana?
A: Many plants are aggressive, but Lantana camara (also called Lantana strigocamara) is a Category 1 invasive plant pest, meaning it’s invading native areas, displacing native plants, and hybridizing with related native plants — and it’s been here and in many parts of the world a long time.
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Q: What happens if you touch lantana?
A: The hairs on the leaves can cause contact dermatitis (usually minor skin irritation) in some people. The berries are poisonous to people and animals.
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Q: Do lantana keep bugs away?
A: The repellent effect of Lantana camara flowers was evaluated against Aedes mosquitoes. Lantana flower extract in coconut oil provided 94.5% protection from Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti. The mean protection time was 1.9 h.
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Q: What happens if you don’t cut back lantana?
A: Pruning Lantanas – How To Prune Lantana Plants tall and sometimes just as wide. Therefore, trimming lantana plants is something that gardeners will eventually have to do. If not kept under control, not only will they become an eyesore, but they may potentially take over and crowd out other nearby plants.
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Q: Is lantana an annual or perennial?
A: Lantana is commonly grown as a sun-loving flowering annual in South Carolina. A few cultivars are reliably perennial throughout much of the state. More are perennial near the coast. All are tough, resilient plants that thrive in hot weather and bloom profusely from spring until frost.
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Q: How many years do lantana last?
A: Since Lantanas aren’t frost-tolerant, colder climates will kill them. If planted outside, your Lantana will thrive as a short-lived perennial, meaning it will last 2-5 years. With extra care, they can survive as tender perennials and last up to 10 years!
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Q: How long will lantana last?
A: Timing: Lantanas come into home and garden stores usually in the early spring before the bloom. Once they have flowered, the bloom should last at least into the early fall. In zones 7 and above, plant lantana in the fall and enjoy the colorful blooms late into the winter months.
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Q: Is lantana poisonous to dogs?
A: Lantana (Lantana camara) All parts of this invasive shrub are poisonous, especially the leaves and green berries. This plant can be fatal to children, dogs and horses. Oleander (Nerium oleander) This entire shrub is poisonous, including the smoke.
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Q: Does lantana spread quickly?
A: Height/Spread: In areas where treated as an annual, lantana grow 3 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide in a single season.
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Q: Should you cut lantana back in winter?
A: The best time to prune your Lantana bushes is during spring, but you can also trim your bush in summer, fall or winter. Always start by removing any dead leaves, flowers, or damaged branches, then make angled cuts along the stem to remove the damaged spots.
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