Invasive Lantana Spreads Across More Than 13 Million Hectares in India

American lantana, scientifically known as Lantana camara, is an invasive shrub that has spread through forest ecosystems in India. As of October 2026, one estimate places its spread at more than 13 million hectares. The plant was introduced to India as a garden shrub in the 19th century.

Distribution and estimates

Estimates of lantana’s spread vary across assessments. A study published in Global Ecology and Conservation in July 2026, led by Ninad Mungi, used data from India’s National Tiger Estimation Project and estimated lantana coverage at about 154,000 square kilometres, or 15.4 million hectares. The study found the plant across more than 40% of India’s tiger range. Separate accounts from December 2025 estimated that dense lantana thickets occupied about 74 million acres, equivalent to approximately 29.9 million hectares. A 2025 study estimated that lantana threatens 44% of India’s forest cover. In Himachal Pradesh, approximately 325,282 hectares of forests were infested, as recorded in the India State of Forest Report 2023.

Ecological effects and research

Lantana forms dense thickets and can inhibit the growth of other plants through the release of chemicals. It thrives in stressed forest environments and is classified among the world’s 100 worst invasive weeds. A study published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change in 2025 examined lantana’s effects on dry forests in Madhya Pradesh. Its fieldwork took place in 2017 and 2018. A March 2026 study of Uttarakhand, conducted by Vishwambhar Prasad Sati and Surajit Banerjee of Mizoram University, found that lantana habitat had expanded by 93% despite two and a half decades of eradication efforts. The study also recorded colonisation at middle altitudes of 900–2,000 metres.

Plant characteristics

Lantana camara belongs to the family Verbenaceae and is native to tropical regions of the Americas. Its introduction as an ornamental plant enabled its establishment beyond its native range. Birds can disperse its seeds, contributing to its spread across landscapes.

Important Facts for Exams

• Lantana camara is an invasive shrub in the family Verbenaceae.
• The plant was introduced to India as a garden shrub in the 19th century.
• The National Tiger Estimation Project provides data used in assessments of India’s tiger range.
• The India State of Forest Report 2023 recorded lantana infestation in Himachal Pradesh forests.

The 2026 study estimated lantana coverage at 15.4 million hectares, or more than 40% of India’s tiger range. The 2025 Madhya Pradesh study examined dry forests using fieldwork from 2017 and 2018.