Removing Lantana 

One of the most frequent activities at KJARC is removing Lantana Camara, a creeper  species from Brasil which can strangle trees, change the acidity of the soil and take over the landscape. Despite my best efforts there is so much lantana growing among the wattles and across the grassland, the berries are edible to birds and spread very quickly.

Lantana can also grow from small cuttings and takes root very quickly. The flowers are beautiful and the pink and white blossoms feed some insects. The branches however are covered with fine hairs and barbed thorns which tear skin and clothes and I am very sensitive to these scratches which cause a rash. 

The result of clearing the lantana has been that an amazing amount of local flowering plants and even some trees have grown and the land is able to be used to restore indigenous vegetation.