Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Lantana camara L.

Frost tender, variable, often prickly-stemmed shrub with ovate, slightly wrinkled, finely-toothed leaves, to 10cm long, and flower heads, to 5cm across, bearing numerous small, yellow or orange flowers, turning deeper red, followed by black fruit.  To 2m.  There are many garden cultivars in colours ranging from white to red or purple.  [RHSE, Beadle].

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Different plants vary greatly in the colour of their blossoms, and the prickliness of their stalks; the prickles are seldom found on the young shoots.  This plant will bear to be placed abroad in the warmest summer months, the rest of the year it requires artificial heat.  It is usually placed in the dry stove, to which, as it is seldom without flowers, it imparts great brilliancy.’  [BM t.96/1789].  Introduced to Britain in 1691.  [PD].  LBC 1171/1826.  

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [T.623/1843].  It is a major weed in parts of Australia, readily colonising and invading disturbed bushland.  [Beadle].  It is present at Camden Park as an occasional opportunistic weed.

Notes

Published Feb 15, 2010 - 05:04 PM | Last updated Feb 16, 2010 - 05:20 PM

View a printable version of this page.

Shown is a bristly stem with ovate leaves and rounded umbels of red and yellow flowers. Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.96, 1789.

Lantana camara L. | BM t.96/1789 | BHL

Family Verbenaceae
Category
Region of origin

Tropical America
Synonyms
  • Lantana camara var. aculeata (L.) Moldenke
  • Lantana scabrida Ait.
  • Lantana crocea Jacq.
  • Lantana Antillana Raf.
  • Lantana Glandulosissima Hayek
  • Lantana hirsuta M.Martins & Galeotti
  • Lantana horrida Kunth
  • Camara aculeata (L.) Kuntze
  • and more
Common Name

Lantana
Name in the Camden Park Record

Lantana Cammara 
Confidence level high