EatTheWeeds Episode 152: Lantana

Green Deane talks about the Lantana camara and the edibility of its berries.

[@innovativeatavist159]

I am so very happy to see him uploading again.

[@FusionDeveloper]

In my personal opinion you make the best and most thorough videos for the safety and risks involved in consuming wild plants.

[@davidthegood]

Down in Grenada, West Indies, people make a tea out of the leaves and claim it keeps you from getting sicker with colds/flu.

[@richardrybicki749]

Hey David this is Mary from St Pete at one time someone told me that the leaves were okay if it was not in bloom is that the case with making a tea out of the leaves

[@doumbasera2202]

i ve seen lizards eat the flowers many2 times..

[@eberevictoria4164]

It’s not a claim,it works

[@eberevictoria4164]

It’s not a claim,it works

[@stonedapefarmer]

Everyone's already said it, but it's great to have you back.

[@EvanBoyar]

Just tried the berries a few days ago after a lifetime of believing they were always poisonous. The ones I had tasted like a delicious combination of raisins, blackberries, and blueberries (I swear I'm not just choosing fruits that they look like). They were tastier than most wild edibles I've had. The leaves smell fruitier, spicier, and less disgusting than the description you gave, though, so perhaps take my glowing review with a grain of sand!

[@bass1bone]

Came to say that the leaves always smelled like a combination of citrus, spiciness, and medicine to me.

[@dmariewalker6880]

Leaves definitely doesn’t smell like cat pee. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@imdone3346]

I have two large bushes in my yard. I can't wait to try the berries.

[@dustietu]

Woohoo! Once again so glad to have you back! Your plant knowledge is so important to us now more than ever! Thank you for sharing! Also after your recent persimmon video I took a much needed nature walk and saw them everywhere!

[@extropiantranshuman]

I tried the lantana berry this morning due to this video and it was much different than what's described here. I guess it was early season, so they were a little light purple. The plant really likes to reveal its berries to eat, so I'll try it then when it's extra shiny and in the sun. It tasted pretty bitter and was a little powdery due to the big seed. It's like those camphor fruit - big seed in the middle. Well it tasted like how it smells. Some of it tasted like a blackberry, minus the sour - only the sweet. I always wanted to taste lantana, because I like how it smells - and now I am able to. So happy!

[@greendeane1]

1) Are you sure you have Lantana? American Beautyberry is light purple. That said Lantana berries can range greatly in flavor. I've had sweet, nice ones, and ones I've spit out.

[@saxet9049]

When I was a kid there was one growing in our backyard. I was fascinated by the plant my mother warned me not to eat, it’s tempting berries, beautiful flowers, and stinky leaves. I never forgot how badly it smelled. I’ll be sure to try the ripe berries next time I come across one. Thanks for the info Green Dean.

[@extropiantranshuman]

I'm always amazed by the knowledge of people of the past generations, but they didn't grow up with the internet, so they avoided so much out of not knowing.

[@zuditaka]

Ripe lantana berries are a nice beachside snack as they grow wild around Sydney Harbour--or used to. 😋

[@ArtDeGuerra]

You're back!!!!

[@richardmang2558]

Lantana, one of the few plants in my yard that gophers have not killed. Nice green bush with beautiful flowers. I will have to try some ripe berries! :)

[@kumquatsurprise]

I eat the ripe berries all the time. They grow EVERYWHERE and make for a good snack while wondering around. Ive also made muffins with lantana and black nightshade berries - I wonder why noone but me would eat them...

[@Benighted.1]

I've just discovered your channel. I think I hit the jackpot. Fabulous discussion about lantana 👍🏼

[@MrDuffy81]

Lantana makes me itch. I’m allergic but I love the grapefruit-like the smell of the flowers.

[@junkettarp8942]

I grew up in rural Australia where lantana was growing by the hectare...we use to crawl into the base of them and pull a huge slab out by putting a chain around the base and hooking it up to the tractor........I always loved the smell of the crushed leaves.....I never found out if it was bad to small them but I am still well and alive.

[@Dipsoid]

I love the smell of lantanas, the flowers smell like a lemon drop candy to me.

[@simpleman283]

This is great. I've been wondering about this plant since I got it confused with the beautyberry. The leaves look the same and without the flowers I transplanted one thinking I had a beautyberry. I decided to keep it because the flowers are really cool. Thanks Mr. Deane, I'll definitely try the berries when they are ripe.

[@dmariewalker6880]

Here in Indiana lantana is grown during summer, I’ve grown it every year and once it grew up to 4 ft tall & wide, very beautiful flowers, which I prefer the red & yellow. This year it’s growing in a pot on my patio on a stand out of reach of my 3 dogs, since last year someone told me it was poison to pets. I’ve seen the green berries, but have never let them ripen as I pinch them off before they get to that stage, bc I get more new flowers. Since I’ve seen this video, I will let some continue to grow so I can taste the ripened fruit. I heard the lantana grows in FL. Year round. Thanks for sharing the info.

[@miguelpearl1425]

Mr. Green Dean is back on the scene! We missed seeing you. Thanks for the amazing content.

[@aconsideredmoment]

Thanks! I had no idea. I am headed to my backyard now to see if there are any ripe metallic blue fruit with no green spots to try. I'm back! Alas, not at this time (10/27/2021 in So Cal). Soon! Thanks for all your videos. Great family fun! Wishing you well.

[@independentthinker8930]

Great info! Been a subscriber for q long time, never let a video pass by!

[@voodookitchenmama]

SO happy to see you back in a video! Thank you for all you share with us.

[@danielmusick211]

I am just so happy you are doing videos again! Please keep them coming.

[@chroniclesofgoatman]

I'm so glad to see Green Deane adding more videos to the collection. Awesome

[@Sibb13]

Glad you are posting videos again!

[@davidthegood]

Hi Green Deane. The audio seems to be running only on the left channel in the last two vids. I had the same problem with some of my videos. The fix was to set the audio in "MONO" in my editing software, which made it run through both speakers, rather than splitting to one side.

[@extropiantranshuman]

I didn't notice

[@greendeane1]

I have no control over that. The camera and program I use makes no audio distinction.

[@robertpeyton9535]

@@greendeane1 I didn't notice either, and glad to see you back. There is no other source I'm aware of who does the research you do, and you explain things very clearly. Also glad to see David the Good following you. He's an interesting fellow. My question: you mentioned the size of the seed, but are they edible?

[@bearskinner2601]

Same here, except, I can’t seem to find a mono setting for my iPad, so I can’t here any of the speaking audio. I only hear the birds singing in the outside clips. Anyone that can help with my iPad audio, please do. Thanks.

[@tdiddle8950]

I've always heard that lantana is toxic, but when I saw this video, I clicked on it immediately. Lantana smells very unique (spicy), though you say the leaves are actually toxic, but the berries have always looked so appetizing when I've deadheaded the shrub. I 100% believe you that the berries are edible...I can tell you know your stuff. When someone cites facts and sources, they generally know their stuff. I can't wait until the next time I see lantana to try the berries. I've seen it growing wild, I thought, or perhaps feral, since you speak of it being in Africa. I would have sworn I looked it up and it's native to FL, but maybe not. You did speak of poisonings from the early 20th century in FL, so maybe it's native to both continents? Not many plants are like that in my experience. And yep, there are people who rage against any sort of foraging at all. When I lived in Portland, Maine, I found the most beautiful (taste-wise) feral apples that I have ever even dreamed of. The skins were tough for sure, but the flesh tasted divine, somewhat like a green apple Jolly Rancher...so tart and so sweet, but the apple was intricate and sublimely balanced. No one seemed to gather them, and when I raved about them, more than one person told me that they were toxic??? Apples? I also gathered the very large rose hips that grew along the shore there, and people thought I was insane for that as well. The hips were large, delicious, and tasted a bit like raisins... especially when I dried them.

[@ScrogginHausen]

HE LIVES!!!!

[@PortugueseGirl27]

By the way : dandelions are in season , wood sorrel, red bud trees , wild onions ..... keep foraging !!!

[@jeff6899]

Fyi Only, My young dog suddenly developed more of a taste for the leaves (both dogs very mildly grazed the plants in the past ) at nearly the 4 yr old mark & nearly died. I had to rip out all the plants & he eventually recovered. He was in some pain & could never sit still. Got Vet health immediately as well, of course. So huge caution on higher amounts (of the plants) around any pets. He could have been consuming unripe berries as well--but to my visual knowledge, it was either exclusively leaves or largely leaves...

[@RICDirector]

Yep, it's nasty stuff. I won't have it around in the yard despite that I love the way it looks.

[@amythrower8108]

thank you so much for sharing your plant knowledge with us, i have always loved your videos and browsing your website ever since i first found them, the knowledge you share is precious and will help many people wanting to live more sustainably.

[@richardvass1462]

I've seen a large Lantana bush that had bright and deep red and orange flowers.... in Deland Florida at the beginning of a trail where people dump landscape waste. It was spectacular! I've seen humdreds of these but never one like that.

[@erica1064]

I'm so glad you are back!!

[@5thBeatle]

Glad to see you're back!

[@keepdancingmaria]

HELLO!!!!! I am so glad to see you again.

[@PortugueseGirl27]

I picked some last here and they are soon in season. I love the taste of the flowers . Different colours diferent flavours. I even made jam from the ripe fruit. I heard the plant leaves dried make a lovely tea. ❤

[@leannkennedy6568]

Thanks for the factual, straight to the point information. Take care and enjoy your beautiful life.

[@Shellskers]

Ground cherries are toxic when green but I absolutely love the ripe ones, and its extremely prolific in Florida.

[@kablevins]

Great information! Thanks for sharing.

[@msohailawan]

Thanks or precious information about lantana. I'm fro village of Pakistan 🇵🇰, it's really over growing here especially in our graveyard and sheep's do like to it as much as they can. As you are reporting that it's leaves are not good for cattles. Thanks again for information ☺️

[@bubbles9201]

❤️ this channel.

[@makeviagold2667]

Love making tea out of the leaves very tasty hot or cold yum yum 😊

[@nefariousyawn]

Oh hey, I consult your website all the time, and forgot about the KZbin channel. Nice to see you!

[@em286]

Yay! New videos! 😎🌱🌿

[@derrickturner8732]

Awesome video.

[@OffGridInvestor]

GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK!

[@americanrebel413]

Thank you.

[@thyme4coffee203]

Love to see a new video!

[@CassandraShadowheart]

Oooo butterflies love that stuff Edit: and i always shake them to get them. Only the ripest or starting to wrinkle fall. Havent eaten them but i wanted to get some to plant Edit 2: theyre usually in hanging baskets here so animals cant get them

[@richardrybicki749]

Mary on Richard's phone I'm one of your students I have been to some of your clinics. I was invited to a situation where the friend and cattle in myakka he asked me to hurry and come over he wanted to show me something and one of his cows and older one had eaten lantana the whole plant and was dying and he wanted to show me what happens to them when they eat lantana so that I could warn all the horse people that we dealt with that are stabled horses and lantana grows all around Pinellas county and I remembered what Julia Morton told me in a 4-hour conversation with her ironically a month before she passed away and she had said the berries were okay The rest of it was deadly so I knew at that point the cows had eaten the wrong parts its skin actually cracked and festered up and it was dead in less than 24 hours

[@maverick4462]

Good to know! A new plant to me. Thank you.

[@rbm6184]

It should always be noted whether or not native American Indians used a plant or not. Just the fact that there is no reference to them ever using a plant says a lot or says just as much as if they did use the plant. Thanks for sharing and great to see new videos, Deane.

[@greendeane1]

All Lantana but one are from the Americas and mostly tropical. But which native group used which Lantana is more difficult to ascertain and there is some evidence they combined them. L. camara can inhibit protein kinase C. L. camara was the most widely used medicinally.

[@danaleeling]

Thanks, very informative. I have only known that the plant is considered toxic, I did not know about the ripe berries. And while I never eat the blossoms, I have pulled the florets off and sucked air through them for about 50 years now. There is a small amount of nectar in the florets.

[@sandraseals6903]

Pre-ordered your book! Can't wait to get it in June!

[@ragnarmjolnir9654]

Fascinating 🖖👽

[@goosiechild]

no way! i had also read that lantana was don't-eat-me. it's a very common ornamental/invasive plant here in Israel. gonna try some tomorrow. you better be right...

[@greendeane1]

If not have your family send a post-script... 😄

[@michu00ify]

I live in Central Fla..it's may early 1st week .they are poppin out along Rt. 41 40 etc..

[@sycamoreknox9419]

One of my favorite flowers, who knew about the berries? I always found the plants had the odor of tomcat spray, much like boxwood.

[@whittkatt]

Thank you for making more videos! I’d love to see your take on Poke Weed, lol. Talk about a firestorm of controversy! Good to see you!

[@stonedapefarmer]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKi3Y6apnrp9jrc

[@simpleman283]

Boiled then fried with scrambled eggs, salt and a few bacon bits (if you have any) is by far my favorite green of all. Haphazard Homestead channel has the best video on cooking pokeweed.

[@extropiantranshuman]

who'da thunk. I was upset that the lantana replaced the fuchsia, so I'm glad to know that I can eat it - as it's abundant all over here. Forget the grocery store, I'll just walk around the nice smelling stuff.

[@egyptmachine]

He’s back!!!

[@putneyfarm64]

So glad to find this out! I just LOVE Lantana! There are a couple of cultivars that are hardy here in zone 7b-8a. Otherwise; annual. Gotta find some cuttings.

[@stevehunt3954]

So glad you are back! Looking forward to trying them! Are American Beauty Berries related to Lantana?

[@EatTheWeeds]

Way back it might be possible. They have some similarities.

[@pamelabratton2501]

Might be nice to mix with elderberry or strawberry for jam/jelly. I LOVE a mixed elderberry and strawberry jam and I can get a cutting of the Lantana from my Mom!

[@nancyfahey7518]

I leave them for the birds but now I have to try them.

[@serendipitynz]

as a kid living in Africa we used the green berries as ammunition in airguns

[@oldscout7]

Who knew? Thanks Deane!

[@junkettarp8942]

I like the plant.

[@THOTHvii]

This makes me wonder if you could use the unripened berries as a natural insecticide for other plants...

[@procerfinolagumbay6534]

Here in Philippines it is widely known by children in the countryside that ripe fruit of lantana can be eatin. I myself has been adding lantana green leaves to my herbal tea.

[@infjstardust4357]

kakainin ko pa ito bukas haha! may ganito sa gate..andi will try tea out of its leaves together with lemon grass and mint leaves an lagundi and honey..

[@hijinxignatius]

HE'S BAAAACCCKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kellycranford3592]

I've had lantana for many years and have NEVER seen fruit on it. What variety is that one?

[@unitedminds5633]

Even in our culture it is eaten, i too have tasted it during childhood. 😀

[@annellacannella5674]

My Weimaraner dog used to graze on the leaves. Over a period of many years I would see him outside eating them. Sure enough, he died at the tender age of 15. It finally killed him! LOL. Maybe it wasn’t really the lantana…. LOL

[@richardjanssen3183]

So sorry for your loss, I had a wimer he died at .10 years with cancer of lungs still miss him

[@jadestar2103]

My dog likes eating them too.

[@buttons3232]

Oops😁, Hi, I like your vids. Informative and easy to understand (not so much “Greek”). I do have a question or two. What mid-Atlantic states does the Lantana grow in (year round)? I guess only one query. Anyway, I did not know the berries are edible, cool. I hope most adults don’t go around eating green berries. Gooseberries yes, if they actually know what they are, lol. I would hope an adult doesn’t eat something at all if they don’t know what it is!! 😝 🇺🇸🌎🇺🇸

[@greendeane1]

I know they grow in South Carolina.

[@michu00ify]

Ar they the ones spread all over the roadsides?

[@OffGridInvestor]

This will be GREAT for the north eastern coast of Australia. It's a SERIOUS pest once you get up near the subtropics.

[@clintnoland823]

Where you been dude !?

[@putneyfarm64]

I was told on my FB timeline that Haitian folks use the leaves in a tea to ease stomach problems.

[@greendeane1]

The plant has been used herbally for a long time. Just make sure you find a credible source for medicinal applications.

[@justing1810]

Where have you been?

[@FukushimaRadiation]

Trimming Lantana makes me itchy. The berries are good though between a blueberry and chocolate if its really ripe.

[@greendeane1]

The leaves and stems do have a rough hair on them. They are scratchy.

[@joannemcewan4160]

Can u make a jam from the black berries?

[@greendeane1]

The berries are useable when blue. When black they are way too old and dry.

[@keijuhl]

Lantana, the ol' radiation plant!

[@EvanBoyar]

Do you spit the seeds or consume them?

[@mohammadaluthainah402]

I ate them very few times & they taste like a very Weak tasting berry & sweet vegetable to me! I eat the berries & swallow the seeds without chewing them , if you used to eat Prickly pears like me you will understand 🤗

[@greendeane1]

I eat the seeds, usually. Sometimes they have a lot of little seeds, sometimes one big seed. If it is a big seed and offers resistance I spit it out. I always eat the small seeds.

[@kenttonbrowne9392]

Can those seeds grow into baby plants?

[@Dionne2U2]

I have some ripening now.

[@mariejoseegloireadieu1730]

Expliqiez en français aussi intéressant

[@Mannard74]

R.I.P. the poor soul who was first to be adventurous and try eating an unripened lantana berry

[@putneyfarm64]

LOL

[@EatTheWeeds]

Prerhaps an adult noticed the more green berries they ate the worse they felt. It is strange that Morton reported two severe cases in toddlers but no bad cases reported in the last 20-some years... more people, more plants, 1400 cases...

[@doumbasera2202]

i ve seen lizards eat lantana camara flowers many2 times..

[@brianlucas7604]

Made some nice persimmon jelly after the last video. Would like to post a picture but I am technologically challenged.

[@greendeane1]

Thank for writing and I understand completely. Everytime something is updated and supposedly new and easier to use it takes me week if ever to get it working again.

[@daddyo3d990]

I always heard not to eat the berries . Poison. Humm .. need to do more research on this .

[@sammane9618]

Can yoy swallow the seeds?

[@greendeane1]

If from ripe fruit, yes.

[@sammane9618]

@@greendeane1 thank you! Also do you have any information on lantana involucrata?

[@buttons3232]

Hi😁😁

[@Rodgerssongwe-xy9ls]

It's healthy to eat this

[@2townsdown208]

Why can’t I hear talking??

[@EatTheWeeds]

It might be a setting on your end. If you have sophisticated audio equipment that might be an issue. On this end it's fine and others can hear it.

[@2townsdown208]

I hear everyone else on yt just not yours. iPhone 11 is what I use. Not sure if it’s that or not. You have info that no one else is talking about. Lol

[@EatTheWeeds]

@@2townsdown208 Others can hear it... might it be a setting on your end?

[@Youngstomata]

I find them bland and the texture not-so good either but they are fun to educate others about!

[@greendeane1]

Their flavor and texture can vary greatly. I suspect where they are a commercial crop they have a stable species.