Description | Night Shade (Solanum dulcamara) A weak vine having purple flowers with a yellow center. The leaves and fruit are toxic. |
---|---|
Plant Type | Weeds |
Hardiness Zone | 4 |
Sunlight | sun to shade |
Moisture | average |
Soil & Site | average to moist |
Flowers | 1/2" wide, five pointed star shaped, purple to violet with reflexing petals, prominent yellow stamens |
Fruit | green in small clusters, ripening to bright red, toxic |
Leaves | 2-4" long, toothless, pointed and three lobed or deeply lobed, toxic and have a bitter taste. |
Stems | weak vine |
Roots | shallow fibrous, emit a distinct odor when pulled |
Dimensions | up to 8' |
Maintenance | Since this plant is shallow rooted it usually can be removed by pulling out the plant. |
Propagation | seeds |
Native Site | northern Africa, Europe and Asia |
Misc Facts | The leaves and fruit contain an alkaloid called solanine. This gives the bitter taste and makes the plant toxic. Gives off a distinct odor when pulling the plants out of the soil. AKA: Bittersweet Nightshade, Bitter Nightshade, Blue Bindweed, Amara Dulcis, Climbing Nightshade, Fellenwort, Felonwood, Poisonberry |
Notes & Reference | The Poison Garden web site (www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/) |