Lantana camara

Lantana

Family: Verbenaceae · Type: annual · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Lantana is a naturalized annual found in southern California coastal and Sacramento Valley regions on disturbed slopes and abandoned fields at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces multi-colored flowers that change from yellow to orange to red as they age, forming dense, compact clusters. Growing with spreading stems that can form dense, tangled patches, it spreads quickly in open, disturbed areas. Its leaves are arranged oppositely, with rough, wrinkled textures and serrated edges that release a distinctive pungent odor when crushed.

Habitat: Disturbed slopes, abandoned fields

Bloom period: All year

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: ScV, SCo

California counties: Orange, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Contra Costa, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Riverside, Santa Clara

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.