Lantana Camara

Sunday 4 June 2017 • Weed alert!! Found this Lantana growing up through this bush. First Lantana I've found in the front garden. Grr! Has a pretty flower BUT in Australia it "is a Weed of National Significance. It is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impacts." Continued...

"Lantana forms dense, impenetrable thickets that take over native bushland and pastures on the east coast of Australia. It competes for resources with, and reduces the productivity of, pastures and forestry plantations. It adds fuel to fires, and is toxic to stock." www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/publications/guidelines/wons/pubs/l-camara.pdf #lantana #weed #invasiveweed #selfseeds #frontgardenbc #foliage #pungent

#information 👍👌👏@brightcolours

Can't see it ever being a problem in the UK, Mario, but it's a real thug here in Australia! @mariomartins

Lantana was first brought to Port Macquarie by Governor Innes's wife in the 1800's

Funny! I have to pay money every year to have them in my yard!! The hummingbirds and butterflies love them. 🦋🦋

Roslyn: I guess if she didn't plant lantana someone else would have. Unfortunately so many garden plants have become huge weed problems since they were introduced to Australia eg agapanthus. 😕 Have you seen this site which suggests alternatives for weed(y) plants? www.growmeinstead.com.au/ @rosegardengirl

Just found this: "When the estate fell into ruin, many of the plants she introduced, which are now considered weeds, ran riot." www.nma.gov.au/av/portmacquarie/lake-innes-estate/investigating-the-estate/margaret-innes-gardens/ @rosegardengirl

Lantana's first recording in Australia was about 1841, as an ornamental garden plant, and by the 1860s, it was naturalised in the Sydney and Brisbane areas. That didn't take long!! 😳😳😳 @rosegardengirl

Lantana eradication has had a lot of effort aimed at it!! "Since 1914, 31 biological control agents have been introduced to Australia to try to control lantana. Seventeen have established, with several insect species causing seasonal damage, reducing the vigour and competitiveness of lantana in some areas." https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/land-management/health-pests-weeds-diseases/weeds-diseases/invasive-plants/restricted/lantana @rosegardengirl

"* All Lantana species are restricted invasive plants under the Biosecurity Act 2014. * It must not be given away, sold, or released into the environment without a permit."

Cyndi: Insects and birds love Lantana here too! Pity it's so extremely aggressive as well. It covers huge areas of land: 50,000 square kilometres which is bigger than 70 of the world's 196 countries! Mind boggling. 😳😳😳 @cyndisflowers

Monday 15 May 2017 • Lantana looks pretty BUT in Australia it "is a Weed of National Significance. It is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impacts." Continued...

"Lantana forms dense, impenetrable thickets that take over native bushland and pastures on the east coast of Australia. It competes for resources with, and reduces the productivity of, pastures and forestry plantations. It adds fuel to fires, and is toxic to stock." www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/publications/guidelines/wons/pubs/l-camara.pdf #lantana #weed #invasiveweed #selfseeds #backgardenbc

Oh what a shame as it's so pretty Katie @brightcolours 😦😦😦

Oh it's super pretty Katie! I'll swap you this for my horsetail grass any time! 😀

Oh that's such a shame when it's sooo pretty!!

Still pretty though😁

Send your gawjus weeds my way 😍

Very pretty even though it's a weed

It's not invasive here generally s our winters are too harsh. My BIL has one in his garden which grew to about 4ft and looked stunning, it didn't self set at all though.

It's certainly a pretty flower!! But is an absolute monster in the subtropical environment here. Develops into huge, impregnable thickets... 😕 @pelly @juliesgarden @sikoma @keely @christineb @sunnyray

I know horsetail grass is a nightmare for you Ian. 😕😕😕 @bigemrg

Pretty but deadly 😱