Helping You Become a More Successful Gardener
Plant Search
Jesse Saylor
Solanaceae
Solanum dulcamara
Climbing Nightshade, Nightshade
Though attractive, deadly nightshade is a weedy, perennial vine that is rarely planted purposefully. It is native to Eurasia but has become naturalized across much of North America. In the wild, it favors thickets, open woods and is often found climbing fences because the seeds are passed through bird droppings.
This clambering vine is borne from a taproot that tends to spread by rhizomes. Its long, vining stems are smooth, often purple and climb by twining around the stems and branches of other plants. Over time its mature basal stems become tan, bumpy and woody. Its distinctive green leaves are ace-shaped with two wing-like lobes at the base. Mature plants produce panicles of small, royal purple flowers with five reflexed petals and a yellow conical center. These are typically produced in summer. The beautiful berry fruits that follow are bright red, egg-shaped and attractive to birds, which find them quite palatable unlike most mammals.
Deadly nightshade can typically found growing in areas with full sun to partial shade and rich, moist soil with average drainage. It is easiest to remove if its roots are dug out. Don’t allow it to set fruit as this will encourage more plants to pop up where they are not wanted.
Both the flowers and the fruits should be avoided because they are toxic. To learn more about the health hazards associated with this plant go to The Poisonous Plants of North Carolina site: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Solandu.htm
10 - 1
3 - 10
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vine/Liana
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
8'-12' / 2.4m - 3.7m
Summer
Europe, Asia
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Average
Clay, Loam
Pollution
Fast
Average Water
Vining/Climbing
Summer, Fall
Showy
Yellow, Purple
Green, Crimson
Green, Purple
Tan
No
Single
Yes
Medium
Matte
Vine
Birds
© 2006-2012 Preferred Commerce. All Rights Reserved.
