Lantana (Lantana camara)
An aggressive invasive thorny shrub that forms dense thickets, re-sprouts from the roots after cutting, and is toxic to livestock.
- Type
- Invasive shrub (perennial, thorny)
- Life cycle
- Perennial; re-sprouts from roots
- Spreads by
- Bird-carried berries/seed; root re-sprouting
- Main harm
- Dense thickets crowd out plants; toxic to livestock
Overview
Lantana (Lantana camara; raimunia) is one of the most aggressive invasive shrubs in India, a serious problem on plantation margins (tea, coffee, orchards), wastelands, forest edges, bunds and grazing land. It is a straggling, thorny shrub with rough, strongly-scented leaves in opposite pairs, square stems with small prickles, and clusters of small flowers that change colour with age (yellow/pink to orange/red), followed by small green berries that ripen blue-black. It forms dense, impenetrable thickets that crowd out other plants.
It is difficult to control for two reasons: birds eat the berries and spread the seed widely, so it constantly re-invades, and cutting it back is not enough because it re-sprouts vigorously from the base and roots. It is also allelopathic (suppresses nearby plants) and its foliage is toxic to grazing livestock. Durable control needs digging out or killing the root crown, not just cutting the top, plus competitive replacement vegetation and persistent follow-up on re-growth and new seedlings.
How to identify it
- A straggling, thorny shrub with rough, strongly-scented leaves in opposite pairs and square stems with small prickles.
- Clusters of small flowers that change colour with age (yellow/pink to orange/red).
- Small green berries that ripen blue-black, eaten and spread by birds.
- Forms dense, impenetrable thickets on plantation margins, wastelands, forest edges and grazing land.
Why it is a problem
- Forms dense thickets that crowd out other plants and useful pasture, and it is allelopathic (suppresses nearby plants).
- Birds spread the seed widely, so it constantly re-invades new areas.
- It re-sprouts vigorously from the base and roots after cutting, so cutting alone does not kill it.
- Its foliage is toxic to grazing livestock.
Cultural & preventive control
- Dig out or destroy the root crown — not just the top — because it re-sprouts from the base and roots.
- Establish competitive replacement vegetation on cleared land to stop it re-invading.
- Keep it out of grazing because it is toxic to livestock, and remove seedlings and re-growth persistently.
- Clear it before the berries ripen where possible to reduce bird-spread seed.
Herbicide control
- In non-crop areas, a recommended systemic herbicide applied to the cut stump or foliage of actively-growing plants helps kill the roots (cut-stump treatment is effective on woody re-sprouters).
- A single cut without herbicide or root removal usually just triggers vigorous re-sprouting.
- Follow up on re-growth and seedlings — one treatment rarely finishes a woody invader.
- Confirm the current herbicide and method for your situation with your local KVK/forest department.
Integrated management
- Attack the roots (dig out or cut-stump herbicide), then replace with competitive vegetation and follow up persistently.
- Reduce seed spread by clearing before berries ripen, and keep removing new seedlings.
- Work at a landscape/community scale on margins and wastelands, and keep livestock away from it.
Crops most at risk
Where this problem is called out in our crop guides — open a crop for the full package of practices.
Frequently asked questions
What is the thorny shrub with colour-changing flower clusters forming thickets on my plantation margins?
A straggling thorny shrub with rough, strongly-scented paired leaves, square prickly stems, and clusters of small flowers that change colour with age (yellow/pink to orange/red) followed by blue-black berries is lantana (Lantana camara). It forms dense thickets, spreads by bird-carried berries, re-sprouts from the roots after cutting, and is toxic to livestock. Control it by digging out or cut-stump-treating the roots, replacing with competitive vegetation, and following up on re-growth and seedlings.
Why does cutting lantana back not get rid of it?
Because lantana re-sprouts vigorously from the base and roots, so simply cutting the top usually triggers dense new re-growth rather than killing the plant — and meanwhile birds keep bringing in new seed from the berries. To actually kill it you have to deal with the roots: dig out the root crown, or use a cut-stump systemic herbicide treatment on woody stems, and then replace the cleared area with competitive vegetation and keep following up on re-growth and seedlings.
Is lantana harmful to animals?
Yes — lantana foliage is toxic to grazing livestock, so it is dangerous where animals graze around infested margins and wastelands, on top of crowding out useful pasture. So keep livestock away from lantana thickets and do not let it into grazing land or fodder. This livestock toxicity, along with the way it crowds out useful plants and spreads by bird-carried berries, is why clearing lantana (roots and all) and replacing it with useful vegetation matters beyond just the crop.
Symptoms and control measures follow ICAR, KVK and state agricultural-university package-of-practices; any named chemical is a registered use. Always read the product label and confirm the dose for your crop and zone. editorial policy.