Solanum laxum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Solanum dietrichiae
- Solanum jasminoides
- Phonetic Spelling
- so-LAY-num LAX-um
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Potato vine is a sweet-scented and fast-growing semi-evergreen vine that is native to South America. This plant is a member of the Solanaceae or nightshade family, which also includes tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.
It can quickly cover a trellis or fence and blooms profusely from summer to fall with white star-shaped flowers. In mild winter climates, it is evergreen and is tolerant of temperatures down to 20 degrees F.
Currently cultivated in warm temperate zones or tropical mountain regions this vine has been introduced in Egypt, Ethiopia, Australia, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. t is hardy to zones 9a to 11b.
The genus name, Solanum, is from the Latin word solamen, which means "comforting or soothing." The species name was previously Solanum jasminoides.
The plant is best grown in fertile well-drained soil in full sun to light shade with moderate moisture. It prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soils of chalk, loam, or sand. It can be trained to climb a trellis or fence or even grown in pots or window boxes for a cascading appearance. The potato vine can be over-wintered in a sunny window and prefers sheltered south or west-facing position. Pruning may be required to control the plant size and is best done in the spring. It is reproduced by semi-hardwood cuttings in the late summer or early fall. Propagation by layering is best done during the summer.
The stems are slender, woody, and twining. The leaves are small, glossy, and dark green. The flowers are fragrant, star-shaped white blooms with yellow stamens. The berry-like fruit is bluish, purplish, or black. There are 10-32 seeds per berry.
The plant is deer resistant. Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers, and many birds disperse the seeds.
The potato vine is easy to grow and maintain. In temperate climates, it may be trained to climb a trellis, fence, arbors, or sheltered wall. For colder climates, it may be used as a summer patio container plant. The plant also does well in coastal gardens.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Summer and Fall Fruits: Fall
Quick ID Hints:
- semi-evergreen vigorous climbing vine
- woody and twining stems
- small dark green ovate to ovate-lanceolate leaves
- star-shaped white blooms with yellow stamens
- small berry-like fruits of blue, purple, or shiny black
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The plant may be susceptible to aphids, red spider mites, tomato spotted wilt, and gray mold. Be mindful that the plant is vulnerable to freezing temperatures and is risky for pets and children.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Album'
jasmine scented white flowers with golden centers - 'Album Variegatum'
Variegated gold and green leaves and white flowers
- 'Album'
- 'Album', 'Album Variegatum'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Album'
jasmine scented white flowers with golden centers - 'Album Variegatum'
Variegated gold and green leaves and white flowers
- 'Album'
- 'Album', 'Album Variegatum'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Solanum
- Species:
- laxum
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South America
- Distribution:
- Native: Southeast and South Brazil to Northeast Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay; Introduced: Azores, Bolivia, Brazil West Central, Canary Islands, Cape Provinces, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, New South Wales, Pakistan, Peru, Queensland, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers attract hummingbirds. The seeds are dispersed by birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Fragrance
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Edibility:
- Non-edible. The plant is toxic if ingested.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Climbing
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a berry that ranges in color from dark blue, purple to shiny black. The berry is globular or ovoid and measures 7-9 mm in diameter. Each berry has 10-32 seeds. The seeds are ovoid to disc-shaped and light to dark brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are loose terminal clusters of up to 20 white star-shaped blooms with five triangular petals and prominent yellow stamens. The flowers are showy and sweet-scented. The flowers bloom from summer to fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are ovate to ovate-lanceolate, simple, dark green, and glossy. The margins are deeply lobed. Young leaves measure 3 inches long and up to 1-inch wide. The leaf is smooth except for hairy tufts in the leaf axils and on the lower surface of the leaf at the axils of large veins.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems can grow up to 50 feet long and are semi-woody. The leaf stems are slender and twining. They measure up to 1-inch long.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- If ingested, the leaves or berries are dangerous to children and pets. The vines are very toxic and may damage the kidneys, brain, heart, and liver. Symptoms of alkaloid poisoning include confusion, dilated pupils, diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness. The plant irritates the skin when handled. It is best to wear protective clothing and gloves.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Solanine alkaloid
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems