Special Note: Lantana has been declared a "Weed of National Significance"
Description:
Originating from South America, Lantana is a fast growing shrub with brittle
climbing and scrambling branches. Can become vine-like and climb into trees.
Stems are square with short prickles. Leaves are mid-green, oval, deeply wrinkled
and hairy. They are opposite on the stem with distinctive smell when crushed.
Flower heads are flat, 2-3cm across, consisting of many tiny red, pink or
yellow tubular flowers, often in combinations. Flowers all year.
A cluster of fleshy black berries, fruiting most heavily in summer.
Dispersal:
Spread into bushland by birds, and garden dumping. Branches or stems will re-root
at ground level, often running along the ground under leaf litter.
Impact on Bushland:
Agressively invades rich soils in open forest, disturbed rainforest and creeklines.
Creates dense shade and heavy leaf litter. Lantana can scramble into understorey
of bushland to a height of 3-4m and form dense thickets, with sprawling stems
rooting where they touch the ground.
Control:
| Manual: |
Dig out taproot and large
surface roots. |
| |
Alternatively, cut away top growth, cut all stems as low as possible near
base and apply an undiluted glyphosate-based
product. |
| |
Check that all side shoots are treated, as any rooted stems left may grow.
Pile cut material off the ground to dry as thicker stems will take root into damp
ground. Scrape and paint exposed surface roots. |
| |
Contact your local control authority for advice
on control for large infestations. |
| Chemical: |
Please contact your local control authority for
advice on chemical control. |
Similar Species:
Native shrub, Poison Peach (Trema aspera) may be confused with Lantana.
It has tiny insignificant flowers, and alternate leaves, unlike Lantana which
has leaves opposite on the stem. Also Poison Peach leaves have no odour when crushed.
Suggested Alternatives:
References:
|
