Verbenas
Verbena flowers are smaller and on longer spikes.
Use the botanical sourceToxic · do not eat
Lantana.
Lantana camara
Also found as Common lantana
A rough, aromatic shrub with multicolored flower heads and blue-black berries; toxic and highly invasive in the tropics.
Sources checked 27 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Toxic. Keep out of food and tea.
Poison help Unripe berries and leaves are toxic to people and livestock and can cause liver damage and sun sensitivity in animals.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 37,461
- People who recorded it
- 16,055
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- Apr–May, Jul–Aug, Oct–Nov
- Records span
- 1967–2026
| January | 1069 |
|---|---|
| February | 889 |
| March | 1287 |
| April | 3046 |
| May | 1915 |
| June | 1160 |
| July | 1393 |
| August | 1305 |
| September | 1299 |
| October | 1621 |
| November | 1555 |
| December | 1066 |
| January | 1437 |
|---|---|
| February | 1290 |
| March | 1822 |
| April | 3174 |
| May | 2023 |
| June | 1480 |
| July | 1256 |
| August | 1177 |
| September | 1627 |
| October | 1602 |
| November | 1629 |
| December | 1339 |
Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.
01 / Learn to see
Field marks
- 01
Square, prickly stems.
- 02
Rough, toothed opposite leaves with a strong smell.
- 03
Flat flower heads changing from yellow to orange, pink or red, followed by black berries.
These are study prompts, not a complete identification key. Confirm the full plant with a regional flora and an experienced local identifier.
02 / Resolve the differences
Look closely. Compare.
Selected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Native to the American tropics; invasive in Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific.
Watch the plant stage
Hazard exists at every growth stage.
Stage guidance is not a local forecast. Check your climate, elevation and a regional source; no month-shift formula is used here.
04 / Gather with care
Observe. Leave intact.
Do not eat, brew, taste or collect for the pantry.
Care for the patch
Among the world's worst invasive plants; follow local removal guidance.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- Wikipedia · Lantana camaraBotanical description, range and documented use
- iNaturalist · Lantana camaraTaxonomy and verified observation records
Checked 27 September 2026. Original editorial synthesis; source institutions have not reviewed or endorsed this guide. Independent botanical field review is pending. Photos illustrate specimens; they do not certify the identity of a plant you find.
Suggest a correction