Alternate name: Shrub Verbena, Hedgeflower

Family: Verbenaceae, Verbena view all from this family

Description Introduced. A shrub with cream, yellow, or pink flowers, usually aging to orange or red, clustered into multicolored heads.
Flowers: 1/2", with 4 unequal lobes. May bloom year-round.
Leaves ovate, toothed, rough-hairy.
Fruit 1/3", berry-like, metallic blue.
Height: 5' (1.5 m).

Warning Children have been fatally poisoned from eating the berries, animals from eating the whole plant. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a person’s age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most vulnerable because of their curiosity and small size. Toxicity can vary in a plant according to season, the plant’s different parts, and its stage of growth; and plants can absorb toxic substances, such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants from the water, air, and soil.

Habitat Open woods, old fields, disturbed areas.

Range West Indies native; naturalized in coastal U.S. from Georgia to Texas, introduced in California and Utah.

Discussion Lantana is considered an exotic invasive plant pest and is ranked as one of the world's 100 worst weeds. It forms dense thickets that are difficult to eradicate, crowd out native flora, and ruin the land for other uses.