Released by UF/IFAS …
by David Austin
Silent Invaders
When we think of things as being invasive we often imagine something like water Hyacinths covering every inch of a waterway or acres of Brazilian Peppers blocking out the sun where nothing else will grow. Invasive species are all around us. Both animal and plant, they harm our ecosystems as well as alter them; sometimes in irreversible ways. Because some of these plants have been here so long, they are often accepted as part of our environment.
A Red Admiral Butterfly is perched on a hybridized Yellow Lantana Cultivar. Photo by David Austin
Category 1
Part of my job as an Environmental Horticulture Agent with UF/IFAS Extension is to educate people on the merits of eliminating these exotic plants and animals. It can sometimes be an uphill battle. One of the plants that comes to mind is Lantana camara. Lantana is beloved by butterfly gardeners and loathed by ranchers and citrus growers. Most homeowners that grow it are not familiar with the invasive issues surrounding this hated and beloved plant. Because it has been in cultivated in Europe since the 1800s, it has been released widespread in warm climates of the United Sates. The University of Florida lists it as a Category one invasive. The lower the category number, the more damaging the plant is considered. There are only Categories 1 and Categories 2 invasive plants.
Not an edible!
An invasive Lantana camara survives next to an abandoned citrus grove. The flowers come in many shades and pastels or often a combination of colors. Photo by David Austin
Lantana has taken root in our natural areas and crowded out native species. It is toxic to cattle, blistering their skin in smaller doses, while possibly killing them if too much is ingested. Other animals such as cats and dogs can become sick if they ate the berries. There is also records of children dying because they consumed the berries (Morton 1971b). Invasive Lantana has hybridized with native Lantana depressa in south Florida to the point that these species are rare and the endemic gene pool contaminated; possibly threatened to become extinct.
Native Lantana, Lantana depressa. Also known as Pineland Lantana has been threatened because of Invasive Lantana camara cross-pollinating with it. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.
Perfect delivery system
Like some gardeners, birds are also fond of Lantana. Unfortunately, they are almost single-handedly responsible for its spread across the countryside. This is why gardeners do not see little seedlings popping up around the plants in their garden. Because of this, they don’t understand how the plant is invasive. Because Lantana takes weeks to germinate, those that are not eaten by birds, often never sprout. Seed dormancy can be broken by passing through a bird and deposited in fertilized packages. Its common to find Lantana along fence lines and under trees where birds often perch. This becomes an extra aggravation for people with fenced livestock.
A better solution
Butterflies and other pollinators love Lantana. Conflict with gardeners that do not want to give them up, has a simple solution. Sterile varieties are available on the market. You no longer have to be part of the problem but can part of the solution by promoting and teaching about these varieties. The University of Florida has released two varieties called ‘Bloomify Red’ and ‘Bloomify Rose’. These two varieties will not produce viable seeds. You can read more about these cultivars at the link below. Varieties recognized by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council as sterile are ‘Gold Mound’, ‘New Gold’, ‘Alba’, and ‘Patriot’.
Left to Right: Graduate student Davi Czarnecki and Dr. Zhanao Deng examine new sterile lantana plants, ‘Bloomify Red’ and ‘Bloomify Rose’, that they developed. Photo by IFAS Communications
Two Infertile Lantana Cultivars for Production and Use in Florida
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