Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Lantana Poisonous to Alpacas?

Lantana (Lantana camara) — a shrub. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — lantana is toxic to alpacas.

Keep it out of pastures, hay and reach of fences, and never feed trimmings.

Lantana (Lantana camara)
Lantana (Lantana camara). Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Lantana camara
Family
Verbenaceae
Plant type
Shrub
Toxic parts
Leaves and green berries
Toxic compound
Pentacyclic triterpenes (lantadenes)

Why it matters

A major livestock poison in Australia, Africa and the southern U.S.

Signs of lantana poisoning in alpacas

  • Photosensitization: swelling and peeling of skin on face and ears
  • Jaundice
  • Loss of appetite, constipation
  • Death from liver failure

Signs can appear within minutes (cyanide, cardiac toxins) or only after weeks of exposure (liver toxins). Many poisoned camelids are simply found dead, so prevention is everything.

What to do if your alpaca ate lantana

  1. Move the herd away and remove any remaining plant material, clippings or fallen leaves.
  2. Call your veterinarian immediately, even if the alpaca looks normal. Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
  3. Bring a sample or clear photo of the plant to help identification.
  4. Do not give home remedies, oils or try to make the alpaca vomit unless your vet tells you to.
  5. Keep the animal quiet, in shade or shelter, with water available. Write down the time and every symptom you see.
  6. Check every other alpaca that had access, then remove the plant permanently (including roots).

Emergency: call your veterinarian immediately. If you cannot reach them, contact an animal poison control service (in the U.S., the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline; fees may apply). Bring a sample or photo of the plant.

About the plant

Lantana camara is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family (Verbenaceae), native to the tropics of the Americas. It is a very adaptable species, which can inhabit a wide variety of ecosystems; once it has been introduced into a habitat it spreads rapidly; between 45ºN and 45ºS and less than 1,400 metres in altitude.From Wikipedia — “Lantana camara”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 139,051 recorded observations of Lantana camara L. worldwide, including 3,660 in the United States. It belongs to the Verbenaceae family. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is lantana poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — lantana is toxic to alpacas. A major livestock poison in Australia, Africa and the southern U.S.
What part of lantana is toxic to alpacas?
Leaves and green berries.
What are the symptoms of lantana poisoning?
Photosensitization: swelling and peeling of skin on face and ears, jaundice, loss of appetite, constipation and death from liver failure.
Is dried lantana safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q332469.