black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Black nightshade is an introduced weed of fields, gardens, and roadsides in many U.S. states. Its small white flowers become clusters of dull black berries, but it is easily confused with other nightshades.

Appearance

Appearance: This branching herb is usually 1–4.5 ft (0.3–1.4 m) tall.
Leaves: The alternate leaves are egg-shaped to diamond-shaped, with smooth or shallowly wavy edges.
Flowers: Small white flowers have five petals bent backward around a cone of yellow and bloom mainly in summer.
Fruit: Several round berries form in a cluster and turn dull black when mature.

Look-alikes

American black nightshadeSolanum americanum

American black nightshade (Solanum americanum) usually has smaller, shiny black berries and smaller flowers. Black nightshade usually has dull berries, but the group varies enough that one photo may not give a reliable answer.

Why they get mixed upBoth plants have white star-shaped flowers and clusters of black berries, and both occur in the United States.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: crop fields
gardens
roadsides
Range: Native to parts of Eurasia and northern Africa, it is introduced in many U.S. states, including California and North Carolina.
Preferred conditions: It favors disturbed, cultivated ground and can grow as a summer annual or short-lived perennial in mild climates.

Life cycle

Reproduction: It reproduces by seed.
Seed dispersal: In the United States, birds can carry the seeds after eating the berries.

Cautions

Cautions: The plant contains , and their amount can vary with plant part, maturity, and growing conditions. Do not eat a wild nightshade based only on a photo identification or common name.

Name and classification

About the name: The is variable, and several closely related species can be difficult to separate without flowers, mature fruit, and seeds.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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