Poison Gooseberry Withania somnifera
Other Common Name(s):
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Withania somnifera is a small shrub or herb grown as an annual in zones colder than 8 but in its native habitat it grows as a ground covering perennial. The native habitats include open and disturbed areas. It plays a similar role as ginseng in China, leading to one of its common names, Indian Ginseng.
It does well in pots and can be grown from seed planting them 2 centimeters deep once the air temperature is above 70 degrees F. Place them in an area of your garden that gets full sun and has good draining, slightly alkaline sandy soil. Water the plant only when the soil drys out as it does not like wet feet. When grown from seed, it will flower and fruit in its first year. In cooler climates it will need to be brought indoors.
Short, fine, silver/gray branched hairs cover most of the plant. Its alternate leaves are opposite the flowering shoots.
The leaves as well as the roots have a distinct odor. The roots have a strong smell which as been described as having the odor of green tomatoes. The leaves can smell similar to a horses sweat. They are also used to produce an insect repellent.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: If eaten, this plant is toxic. It can cause dependence and decrease effectiveness of immunosuppressant drugs.
Stem and root rot can effect this plant.
It cannot grow in the shade.
- 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:
- Withania
- Species:
- somnifera
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- An herb used in Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen and nerve tonic.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, China, Africa to Sri Lanka
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees, birds, and butterflies frequent this plant.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Edibility:
- Roots are medicinal, harvest when flowers and fruits form and leaves start to dry out. Fruits can also be eaten but remove seeds first, this is best achieved by drying the fruits and crushing them.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The poisonous fruits are a hairless spherical berry. They start out green and mature to orange/red. The lantern-like pods contain pea-like red/orange fruits. As the berries ripen, the clayx surrounding it shrivels. At that time, the red berries can be seen.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are inconspicuous and appear at the leaf nodes on short stalks. The flowers are pale green and are held in a olive green clayx that surrounds the berry when the flower falls away.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are simple, ovate, with entire margins that can sometimes be wavy. They are said to smell of horse sweat. The upper side of the leaves is nearly hairless, while the underside is densely hairy. There is a central vein on the leaves, the sides of the leaf fold in slightly towards the center. The leaves have a downy covering of tiny hairs, giving the leaves a gray sheen.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The erect stems are covered with tiny hairs, giving it a gray sheen.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
