SOLANUM

In addition to eggplant and potato (described under those names), Solanum includes a number of ornamental plants. All have small, star-shaped, five-petaled blue or white flowers with reproductive parts that form a pointed yellow structure in the blossom's center. A few of the species described here produce decorative fruit.

solanum crispum

• Evergreen vine.
• Zones CS, TS; USDA 9-11.
• From Chile, Peru.
• Modest (even shrubby) climber to 12 feet., with ovate to lance-shaped, soft green, often wavy-edged leaves to 5 inches long.
• In summer, bears 4 inches clusters of fragrant, lilac-blue flowers with yellow centers.
• Small, inedible yellowish fruit.
• Must be fastened to its support; well suited to trellises, walls, posts.
• May lose leaves in hard frost.
• Selection 'Glasnevin' has deeper blue flowers in larger clusters.

POTATO VINE

solanum jasminoides(Solanum laxum)

• Evergreen or semievergreen vine.
• Zones LS, CS, TS; USDA 8-11.
• From Brazil.
• Twines rapidly to 30 feet Purplish-tinged, arrow-shaped, 112- to 3 inches-long leaves.
• Bluish white, 1 inches flowers are carried on threadlike stalks in clusters of up to 12; bloom is almost continuous all year, heaviest in spring.
• Grown for flowers or to provide light overhead shade.
• Cut back severely at any time to prevent tangling, promote vigorous new growth.
• Control rampant runners that grow along ground.
• Album bears pure white flowers; 'Variegatum' has leaves edged with creamy yellow.

jerusalem cherry

solanum pseudocapsicum

• Evergreen shrub.
• Zones CS, TS; USDA 9-11; annual or indoor/outdoor plant anywhere.
• From Madeira; widely naturalized in tropics and subtropics.
• To 34 feet high and wide (about half that size if grown as an annual).
• Shiny, deep green, smooth, elliptical leaves to 4 inches long.
• White, 12 inches summer flowers are followed in autumn by a fine show of scarlet (rarely yellow), 12 inches fruit that looks like cherry tomatoes but is poisonous.
• In mildest-winter areas, plant bears flowers and fruit (and self-sows) year-round.
• More popular than taller kinds are the many dwarf strains, which grow to 1 feet high and bear larger fruit (to 1 inches across).
• Leaves and developing fruit of 'Variegatum' are striped in green and white; fruit matures to orange.

brazilian nightshade

solanum seaforthianum

• Evergreen or semievergreen vine.
• Zone TS; USDA 10-11.
• Slender-stemmed plant to 15 feet.; must be fastened to its support.
• Oval, 4- to 8 inches-long, medium green leaves are either undivided or quite deeply cleft into three or more lobes.
• Clusters of violet-blue, 1 inches-wide flowers bloom in summer.
• Pea-size red fruit is enjoyed by birds but should not be eaten by people.

costa rican nightshade

solanum wendlandii

• Deciduous vine.
• Zone TS; USDA 10-11.
• From Costa Rica.
• To 1520 feet., climbing by twining stems and hooked spines.
• Glossy, green, ovate or (sometimes) lobed leaves 410 inches long are corrugated in texture.
• Foliage forms a lush backdrop for dense, domed clusters of lavender-blue, 212 inches summer flowers.
• Somewhat reminiscent of bougainvillea.
• Let it clamber into tall trees, cover a pergola, decorate eaves of large house.
• Loses leaves in low temperatures, even without frost; slow to leaf out in spring.

BLUE POTATO TREE

solanum wrightii(Solanum macranthum)

• Evergreen shrub.
• Zone TS; USDA 10-11.
• From Brazil.
• Grows quickly to 615 feet tall and wide; can be kept smaller by tip-pinching or pruned up into a small tree.
• Prickly, irregularly lobed leaves to 15 inches long.
• Fragrant flowers 2212 inches across open purple and age through shades of lavender to white; blooms intermittently from spring to fall.
• Needs rich soil.
• Good for a tropical effect.