Black Nightshade
Solanum nigrum
Also known as: black nightshade
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andaman Is., Austria, Azores, Baleares, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Chad, China, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Djibouti, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Gulf States, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicobar Is., North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Selvagens, Sicilia, Sinai, South China Sea, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Vietnam, Western Sahara, Yemen
Katja Schulz (www.flickr.com) from Washington, D. C., USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Genus:
- Solanum
- Species:
- Solanum nigrum
- USDA Symbol:
- SONI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Eggplant Webworm Moth (Rhectocraspeda periusalis), South American tomato pinworm (Symmetrischema tangolias), striped symmetrischema moth (Symmetrischema striatella), Subflexus straw moth (Heliothis subflexa), Tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), tomato pinworm (Keiferia lycopersicella)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) Moths:tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates moderate drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in disturbed soils and waste areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm soil without pretreatment.