Spanish flag (Lantana camara) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Common lantana is a shrub native to tropical America, with rounded clusters of small flowers that can change color as they age. The leaves and unripe fruit should not be eaten because they are poisonous. In U.S. gardens, the name common lantana may also be used for the similar Lantana strigocamara.

Appearance

Growth form: It is a shrub that can reach about 6 ft (2 m).
Flowers: Rounded clusters hold small tubular flowers in yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, or white. Individual flowers may change color as they age.
Fruit: Small round fruits turn dark purple or black as they ripen.

Look-alikes

Lantana strigocamara

Flower color alone will not separate them. Lantana strigocamara often has leaves more than 2 in (5 cm) wide, but a leaf measurement alone will not securely identify either species.

Why they get mixed upBoth have rounded clusters of multicolored flowers, and U.S. garden labels have long mixed their names.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: gardens
containers
sunny borders
Range: This species is native from Mexico through tropical America. In the United States, the name common lantana is also used for cultivated Lantana strigocamara, so a garden label alone may not identify this species.

Cautions

Cautions: The plant has poisonous parts; leaves and unripe fruit should not be eaten.

Name and classification

About the name: Some U.S. garden plants once labeled Lantana camara are now identified as Lantana strigocamara.
Varieties and forms: Flower colors vary widely among cultivated forms.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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