Eggplant
Solanum melongena
- Native to:
- Bangladesh, Borneo, China, Guam, Hainan, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Mauritius, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Réunion, South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Thailand, Vietnam
Vengolis
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Genus:
- Solanum
- Species:
- Solanum melongena
- USDA Symbol:
- SOME
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Eggplant fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis), Eggplant fruit borer (Neoleucinodes elegantalis), eggplant leafroller moth (Lineodes integra), Eggplant Webworm Moth (Rhectocraspeda periusalis), European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), False codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta), Five-spotted hawk moth (Manduca quinquemaculatus), Potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella), root collar borer (Euzophera ostricolorella), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), Southern beet webworm moth (Herpetogramma bipunctalis), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris), Striped rice borer (Chilo suppressalis), Tildenia glochinella, tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), tomato pinworm (Keiferia lycopersicella), underworld dart (Agrotis subterranea), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to regions with fertile, well-drained soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Requires warm soil temperatures of 75-85°F for optimal germination. Seeds germinate best with consistent moisture and warmth.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI