Lantana camara, a flowering shrub originating from Central and South America, has become an aggressive invasive weed globally. Its rapid growth, soil-altering chemicals, and toxicity to livestock, coupled with its ability to thrive in poor conditions and attract seed-dispersing animals, make it an ecological challenge. Introduced ornamentally in the 17th century, it escaped cultivation by the 19th century, spreading across continents and prompting control efforts by the 20th century.