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Solanum mauritianum

bugweed

Solanaceae Subtropical South America

Attracts Pollinators

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Solanum mauritianum is a fast-growing, soft-wooded evergreen shrub or small tree reaching 6.5-33 feet (2-10 m) tall and 6.5-16 feet (2-5 m) wide, with a single trunk and a spreading crown. The large ovate leaves grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) long, are soft and grey-green, and are densely covered in star-shaped hairs that give a felted surface and a strong odour when crushed; a pair of small ear-like lobes sits at each leaf base. Purple star-shaped flowers about 0.8 inch (2 cm) across, with a yellow central cone of anthers, appear in branched clusters through much of the year. Round berries about 0.4 inch (1 cm) wide ripen dull yellow and hold many seeds. Native to South America, it has become a widespread environmental weed in eastern Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Pacific islands, forming dense thickets in disturbed forest, gullies, and clearings. All parts contain toxic glycoalkaloids, the berries are poisonous to humans, and the dense hairs can irritate skin, eyes, and the airways.

Native Range

Native to subtropical South America, in southern Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It has naturalised widely as a weed in eastern Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and many Pacific and subtropical regions.

Suggested Uses

This species is not grown ornamentally and is managed as an invasive weed. Control programs target it to protect native bushland, pasture, and forestry, since its toxic berries and irritant hairs also pose a hazard to people and stock.

How to Identify

Identify Solanum mauritianum by its large, soft, grey-green felted leaves with star-shaped hairs and small ear-like lobes at the leaf base, its purple star flowers with a yellow central cone, and its clusters of round dull-yellow berries. The crushed foliage has a strong, unpleasant smell.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6'6" - 33'

Width/Spread6'6" - 16'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Purple flowers appear through much of the year in frost-free climates, with peaks in spring and summer. Flowering and fruiting often overlap, so clusters of purple flowers and round yellow berries can be present on the plant at the same time.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

purple with yellow centre

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 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 Range5.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Solanum mauritianum grows in full sun to part shade on a wide range of soils, favouring disturbed, moist ground along forest edges, streams, and roadsides. It establishes quickly from bird-spread seed, grows fast, and forms dense stands that shade out other plants. It tolerates poor soils but is frost-sensitive, with top growth cut back by hard frost. It is listed as a noxious or environmental weed across eastern Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, where its sale and movement are restricted. All parts contain glycoalkaloids that are toxic to humans and animals.

Pruning

Cut stems resprout quickly from the base and from the trunk, so cutting alone rarely controls the plant. Removing fruit before it ripens limits the bird-spread seed that drives its spread into new areas.