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Solanum carolinense

Carolina horsenettle

Solanaceae

southeastern and central North America

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Solanum carolinense is a deep-rooted perennial in the nightshade family native to the southeastern and central United States, growing 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall on stems armed with sharp yellow spines. The oval to lobed leaves are 2-5 inches (5-12 cm) long and carry spines along the midrib and veins on both surfaces. From late spring into autumn it bears loose clusters of star-shaped flowers about 1 inch (2.5 cm) across, white to pale violet with a cone of bright yellow anthers at the center. The flowers ripen into smooth, round berries 0.4-0.6 inch (1-1.5 cm) wide that turn from green and mottled to yellow as they mature, resembling tiny tomatoes. All parts, and especially the berries, contain solanine and related alkaloids that are toxic to people and livestock. S. carolinense spreads by deep, creeping roots as well as by seed, and root fragments left in the soil regrow readily, which makes it persistent in fields, pastures, and gardens. It tolerates drought and poor soil and is treated as a noxious weed in many states.

Native Range

Solanum carolinense is native to the southeastern and central United States and has spread north and west across most of North America. It grows in pastures, crop fields, gardens, roadsides, and other open, disturbed ground on a wide range of soils.

Suggested Uses

Solanum carolinense is a weed with no landscape or garden use, and it is managed for removal across its range. Where it grows in pastures and crop fields, the priority is control rather than cultivation. The flowers are visited by bees, and some wildlife eat the berries despite their toxicity to livestock.

How to Identify

Look for sharp yellow spines on the stems and along the leaf veins, which set this plant apart from most other nightshades. The white to pale violet flowers are star-shaped with a central cone of yellow anthers. The round fruits ripen yellow and look like small tomatoes.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowering runs from late spring into autumn, roughly May to October. The white to violet star-shaped flowers open in loose clusters over a long season. Yellow tomato-like berries follow and persist on the dead stems into winter.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pale violet

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Solanum carolinense grows in full sun on dry to moderately moist soils of almost any type and needs no care to persist, behaving as a weed rather than a cultivated plant. It spreads by deep, brittle roots that resprout from fragments, so tilling and hand-pulling often multiply it rather than remove it. The spines make handling difficult, and all parts are toxic if eaten. Control usually combines repeated mowing or cutting before seed set with targeted herbicide, sustained over more than one season. It tolerates drought and poor fertility, and few pests trouble it. Because it hosts pests and diseases of related crops, it is removed from vegetable gardens where possible.

Pruning

The plant is not pruned for ornament. Repeated cutting or mowing before the berries form reduces seeding and slowly weakens the root reserves. Cut stems and pulled roots are bagged rather than composted, as root pieces and seeds remain viable.