This plant popped up in my peacock aviary, and I noticed my peacocks eating both the leaves and seeds. They had no ill effect from the plant, and later I was watching a nature documentary about India and saw in one clip a forest of lantana and a peacock could be heard calling in the background. Thus, I figured in the wild they must eat from this plant.

I can confirm lantana is a favorite of bees and butterflies. Sometimes when I walk past the lantana bush, tons of little butterflies (usually Grey Hairstreek butterflies) scatter and flit about.

When cutting this plant, you may notice it has small thorns. However, since the thorns are small and not very sturdy I never get poked or scratched by the plant. It just has a rough texture. Also, when you cut the plant or rub the leaves, there is a very powerful distinct smell that they have. If you need to remove the entire plant, I find that it is not too difficult, especially after a good rain when the ground is wet. Some good pulling will usually remove the whole plant, main roots and all. Here in zone 8/9 the plant will die back, sometimes to the ground but it re-grows in spring. Even if mine doesn't die back, I will trim it a few feet back as it appears to benefit from a good pruning by growing back healther/thicker looking.

It does pop up all around my yard. Probably because of birds dispersing the seeds. I'm usually fine with the areas it chooses to pop up, so normally I will leave it.

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"Lantana camara, also known as Spanish Flag or West Indian Lantana or LAVA, is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to the American tropics. It has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant and is considered an invasive species in many tropical and sub-tropical areas.

West Indian Lantana has been reported to make animals ill after ingestion. The pentacyclic triterpenoids its foliage contains cause hepatotoxicity and photosensitivity in grazing animals such as sheep, goats, bovines, and horses. Livestock foraging on the plant has led to widespread losses in the United States, South Africa, India, Mexico, and Australia. The berries are edible when ripe. Ingestion of L. camara (including unripe berries) is not associated with significant human toxicity. Nevertheless, Teuscher, Lindequist states that the symptoms of its poisoning are similar to Atropa belladonna's one.

L. camara has been listed as a Category One "Invasive Toxic Species" in Florida by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, and has become a problem in Texas and Hawaii.

West Indian Lantana has become popular in gardens for its hardy nature. It is not affected by pests or disease, has low water requirements, and is tolerant of extreme heat. It is a favorite species of butterflies, and used in butterfly gardens in the United States. Wild species may have short, hooked prickles. Lantana cultivars favored as ornamentals tend to have small herbaceous stems."

Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...

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Lantana camara is a lovely ornamental shrub that has become naturalized in some areas, especially the Atlantic coastal plains from Georgia to Florida. It colonizes when birds disperse seeds and it spreads quickly. It prefers warmth and humidity, will thrive in shade or full sun, is extremely drought tolerant and has no known pests or diseases. Lantana grows in a wide variety of areas here in Florida, forests, citrus groves, pastures and along roadsides. It is listed as a Category 1 invasive in Florida. This plant is toxic to cattle and other grazing livestock.

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