Poisonberry Solanum nigrum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Solanum atriplicifolium
- Phonetic Spelling
- so-LAN-num NYE-grum
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The European Black Nightshade is an annual or short-lived perennial herb that is an erect and dense shrub. It is grown for its flowers and ornamental fruits. The plant has green leaves and tiny star-shaped white blooms that grow in short-stalked clusters in the summer. Berry-like fruits appear in the summer and fall. It is a member of the Solanaceae or nightshade family, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants.
The plant is a native of parts of Europe, Asia, Macaronesia, and the North and Northeast portions of Africa. The European Black Nightshade has been introduced to the United States. Canada, and Australia. It is found in coastal areas, wetlands, pastures, woodlands, fields, along roadsides, or other disturbed sites. European Black Nightshade is a common weed in horticulture, and its seeds are easily spread by birds to pastures and wastelands. The plant may compete with crops and can become a serious problem. It has been classified as a weed in 61 countries.
The genus name, Solanum, is from the Latin word solamen, which means "comforting or soothing." The species name, nigrum, means "black" and refers to the black fruits.
European Black Nightshade prefers full sun and is intolerant to shade. It grows best in sand, loam, or clay with a slightly acidic pH. The plant is easy to maintain and is drought tolerant once established. The minimal temperature it will tolerate is 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant is propagated by seeds, and the flowers are pollinated by insects.
The stems are hairy, stout, and green or tinged with purple. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface, and the undersides are lighter green with a purplish tinge. They are ovate, entire, and may have short stout hairs on the upper and lower surface. The flower stalk supports three to twelve flowers in umbel-like cymes. The fruits are small green berries that ripen to black or purplish black.
The leaves and the immature green berries of this plant are poisonous to humans and animals. They contain an alkaloid known as Solanine. Symptoms of poisoning include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and possible death. Once the berries mature and turn black, the fruits are edible, in limited quantities.
This plant should not be confused with a more toxic plant known as Deadly Nightshade. European Black Nightshade berries appear in clusters and the Deadly Nightshade berries are individual.
When considering this plant, be mindful of its risk to pets and children as well as its tendency to become weedy.
Seasons of interest:
Bloom: Summer Fruits: Summer, Fall
Quick ID Hints:
- erect, stout, green stems that may be tinged with purple
- dark green leaves, hairy or smooth, entire, wavy to dentate margins
- the flower stalks support 3 to 23 tiny white flowers with yellow anthers in umbel-like cymes
- clusters of green to black or purplish-black soft berries
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The plant may be susceptible to red spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, aphids, and flea beetles. Caterpillars and slugs can destroy the plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Solanum
- Species:
- nigrum
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves, roots, and berries have been used to make medicine. In ancient India, the berries were used to treat tuberculosis and jaundice.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Temp. Eurasia, Macaronesia, North and Northeast Tropical Africa
- Distribution:
- Native: Afghanistan, Algeria, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Chad, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungry, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, Yemen, and Yugoslavia; Introduced: US--AL, AK, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IO, ME, MD, MA, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OK, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WI. Canada--Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Northern Territory, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. Portions of Australia, New Zealand, Borneo, and the Philippines
- Wildlife Value:
- The fruits are eaten by birds. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- The ripe berries are edible in limited quantities. They may be made into jam. The green and unripe berries are poisonous. The leaves are cooked and prepared as a vegetable in some countries.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a soft globular berry that grows in clusters. As the berry matures, it will appear fleshy and transition from green to black or purplish black. They measure 0.25 inches in diameter and appear from July to November. The seeds are disk-shaped, flat, and measure 2 mm in diameter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers bloom from May to August. The flower stalk supports 3 to 12 flowers in umbel-like cymes. The bloom is tiny, star-shaped, and has 5 white petals. Sometimes the bloom may be flushed with purple or pale blue. The center of the flower has a yellow-green center. There are five stamens, and the anthers are yellow. The flower diameter is 5 to 7 mm.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and lighter green and tinged with purple on the undersides. They are alternate, simple, and ovate to lanceolate. The leaf is 1.5 to 4 inches long, 1 to 3 inches wide, and the margins are entire, wavy, or coarsely dentate. The surface of the leaf may be hairy or smooth.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are erect, stout, hairy or hairless, angular-shaped, and may become woody at the base. The stem color is green and maybe tinged with purple.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Hypersalivation, severe gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, CNS depression, abdominal pain, confusion, nausea, behavioral change, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate. May be fatal.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Solanine alkaloid, saponins, atropine like substances
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves