Is Lantana camara Toxic to Dogs?

Lantana camara is the non-native species sold at most big-box garden centers in Texas, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center plant database lists it as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. This is different from native Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides), which is considered much safer. The toxic compound (lantadene A, a triterpenoid) is concentrated in the leaves and especially the unripe green berries.

Symptoms of Lantana camara ingestion: vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, jaundice (yellowing of gums or eyes), and difficulty breathing. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that liver damage is the primary risk for ingestion of significant quantities. Children are also at risk; the unripe berries are the most toxic part. Call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435 if exposure is suspected.

The naming overlap is the trap. Most Texas nurseries sell "Lantana" without specifying species, and most retail Lantana on the market is Lantana camara or a hybrid. Read the scientific name on the tag. If it says Lantana camara or any hybrid (Lantana camara cultivars include "Bandana", "Lucky", "Bloomify", and many others), it is the toxic species.

Safe native alternative: Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides). Same sunny look, orange-yellow flowers, butterflies and hummingbirds visit it, and the native species is not flagged toxic by the ASPCA. Ask for it by scientific name to make sure you are getting the native, not a hybrid. The flowers are slightly more orange and less variable in color than the imports, which is one tell at the nursery.