Wild Sage (Lantana camara)

Family: Verbenaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

A species of flowering plant native to American tropics, Lantana camara or otherwise known in various common names such as wild sage, red sage, big sage, white sage, tick berry, Lantana verbena, and shrub sage is an invasive, small, perennial shrub growing around 2m tall forming dense thickets. The flowers of L. camara are small and tubular, and arranged in clusters in terminal areas stems. Colors vary from yellow, red, white, pink, and orange.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

aromatic leaves are used to make a tea. — The aromatic leaves are used to make a tea.; The ripe black fruits are eaten in handfuls, especially by children as a snack.; The sweet tasting drupaceous, fleshy, ovoid fruits are purple or black when fully ripe and about 5 mm long.; Some reports mention the toxicity of the unripe fruits.

Habitat & North American Range

Mainly a weed of plantation crops and pastures, it is found in relatively open and disturbed, not too moist habitats from sea-level to elevations of 1,700 metres. (Zone 8)