Solanum americanum
American black nightshade
Attracts Pollinators
Native to North America
SunFull Sun – Part Shade
WaterMedium
Overview
Solanum americanum is a fast-growing annual or short-lived perennial herb in the nightshade family, reaching 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) tall with a branching, upright to sprawling habit. The thin oval to lance-shaped leaves are 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long, medium green, with smooth or slightly wavy margins. Small white star-shaped flowers, each about 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) across with five petals and a central cone of yellow anthers, appear in drooping clusters of three to ten from summer into fall. The flowers give way to round berries 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) wide that ripen from green to glossy black. All green parts and the unripe green berries contain solanine and related glycoalkaloids and are toxic to people, livestock, and pets if eaten. The plant occurs across the Americas and has spread worldwide as a weed of gardens, fields, and disturbed ground. It completes its life cycle quickly and self-seeds freely, which can make it persistent once present. The fully ripe black berries are eaten cooked in some regions, though green fruit and foliage remain hazardous.
Native Range
Solanum americanum is native to the Americas, ranging across North, Central, and South America, and has naturalized on every inhabited continent as a weed of cultivated and disturbed land.Suggested Uses
Rarely planted on purpose, it appears mainly as a volunteer in gardens, field edges, and disturbed sites. Where tolerated, the flowers draw small bees and the ripe berries feed birds. The foliage and green fruit are toxic, so it is usually removed from areas used by children, pets, or livestock.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from summer through fall, and in frost-free areas plants bloom nearly year-round. Each cluster opens a few flowers at a time over several weeks. Flowering and fruiting overlap, so a single plant often carries open flowers, green berries, and ripe black berries at once.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with yellow anthersFoliage Description
medium greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs