Apple-of-Peru Nicandra physalodes
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- nih-KAN-drah fy-sal-OH-deez
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The Shoofly Plant is an annual, summer-blooming, flowering plant native to Peru in the night-shade family. The plant matures at 2 to 5 feet high with some branching. The individual blue flowers live for one day, but the plant produces a succession of flowers from summer to early autumn. The flowers develop on short stalks from the axils of the upper leaves. The genus is named for the Greek scientist, Nycander, who wrote treatises on plants more than 2000 years ago.
The Shoofly Plant prefers full or partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a loamy fertile soil. Most growth occurs during the late spring and summer and the eventual size of a plant varies, depending on soil fertility and availability of moisture.
Like other members of the Nightshade family, the foliage is toxic to mammalian herbivores and not often consumed. In the southern states, the juices from the foliage and roots of this plant were mixed with milk in a dish, which was set out to attract flies. When the flies fed from this concoction, they died. This is the source of the common name, Shoofly Plant. This species belongs to the nightshade family that contains many species of poisonous plants so caution is advised.
It has escaped cultivation and naturalized in large areas of the US. It prefers disturbed areas and usually doesn't persist in the wild. The root system consists of a taproot and the plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nicandra
- Species:
- physalodes
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used to treat unspecified medicinal disorders, as a poison and a medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Peru to North Western Argentina
- Distribution:
- Introduced worldwide.
- Wildlife Value:
- The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract various kinds of bees.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is about ½ inch across and divided into 3 to 5 cells. It has a dry texture and is enclosed by an enlarged, papery calyx that is full of seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers axillary, nodding, short bell-shaped, pale blue with a white center. These flowers are sometimes erect and consist of a spreading corolla that is light blue or lavender with 5 shallow lobes. The throat of the corolla is white with 5 stamens with light yellow anthers. These flowers are about 1–1½ inches across diurnal, and short-lived.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The alternate leaves are up to 8 inches long and 4 inches across (excluding the petioles). They are ovate-cordate and sparsely pubescent. The margins are shallowly lobed, bluntly dentate, or undulate. The petiole of each leaf is long and slender, tilting at an upward angle.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are angular and largely hairless.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
