Potatotree
Solanum erianthum
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Galápagos, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Navassa Island, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., United States, Virgin Islands
Franz Xaver
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Genus:
- Solanum
- Species:
- Solanum erianthum
- USDA Symbol:
- SOER2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub , Tree
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jan,feb,mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov,dec
- Bloom Colors:
- white
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Eggplant Webworm Moth (Rhectocraspeda periusalis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, butterflies
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers organic matter-rich environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm conditions without pretreatment. Light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI