I was walking with my dog on Red Bud Isle and noticed a shrub I have seen many times before but didn’t know the name of. This shrub is usually known as the Texas lantana, but despite the name, it is actually native to Central and South America and has spread to over 50 countries. It persists in Texas because it can survive throughout droughts and extreme heat. Of the verbena family, the Texas lantana is a spreading shrub that grows from the ground upward. The clusters of the small four petal flowers appear from April to October. Many people plant them to embellish their gardens and add a bright orange color, but this shrub has actually become an invasive species in many places. It crowds out other species and reduces biodiversity.