Lantana camara (“Ham and Eggs”): The Colorful, Itchy, Toxic Volunteer

Identifying the Pink-and-Yellow Louisiana Native

The aromatic, sandpapery-leaved plant with pink/yellow flower clusters and color-changing scent (minty → peppery) is Lantana camara, locally called “Ham and Eggs.”

Key Traits

• Fuzzy leaf undersides; 1–2 ft tall.
• Flowers change color as they age.
• Produces silvery blue-black berries.
• Escapes cultivation easily; thrives in cracks.

Warnings

• Handling can cause itchy rash (resolves in hours).
• Berries toxic to children and livestock.
• Invasive in dry regions (Texas, Australia).

A classic Southern garden plant with a wild side.

— Identified by Susan