lantana

American  

[lan-tan-uh] / lænˈtæn ə /

noun

1. any of numerous chiefly tropical plants belonging to the genus Lantana, of the verbena family, certain species of which, as L. camara, are cultivated for their aromatic flowers of yellow and orange or blue and violet.

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lantana British  

/ -ˈtɑː-, lænˈteɪnə /

noun

1. any verbenaceous shrub or herbaceous plant of the tropical American genus Lantana, esp L. camara , having spikes or umbels of yellow or orange flowers. It has been widely introduced and is regarded as a troublesome weed in some places

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Etymology

Origin of lantana

1785–95; < New Latin < dialectal Italian lantana wayfaring tree

Example Sentences

These include citronella, a few other geranium varieties, plus marigolds, lemongrass, catnip, certain types of mint, lavender, and lantana.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2024

Larry Fossan, facility manager and landscape supervisor, replaced the lawn with xeriscaping: native plants like lantana, cactuses, Mexican feathergrass.

From Washington Post • Aug. 24, 2022

Fensham says as Myrtaceae disappears, lantana has the potential to become “sort of a wick into the rainforest.”

From Scientific American • Jul. 5, 2020

If the fungus kills off the native plants and the invasive plants replace them, the lantana could carry fire into the normally protected rainforests and the wide range of unique species that live within them.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2020

When Abuela found his billfold in the bed of lantana he’d been weeding that afternoon—¡Ay-ay-ay!

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina