# American black nightshade (*Solanum americanum*) The American black nightshade is a small plant with shiny green leaves and tiny white flowers. It produces small black berries that can be found in gardens and fields. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** American Nightshade ![American black nightshade](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Solanum_americanum_%28Solanaceae%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solanum_americanum_%28Solanaceae%29.jpg) ## Appearance The American black nightshade has oval leaves, often with wavy edges, and produces clusters of small, star-shaped white flowers with bright yellow centers. Its most distinguishing feature is the small, round berries that transition from green to shiny black when ripe, resembling tiny pearls. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Solanales - **Family:** Solanaceae - **Genus:** Solanum ## Interesting facts - Each tiny flower has five white petals that are usually bent backward! - Its ripe berries look like tiny black pearls, but only some are safe to eat! - Some people call it 'deadly nightshade,' but that's a different, much more toxic plant! - This plant is a relative of potatoes, tomatoes, and even chili peppers! ## Special abilities - **Seed Dispersal Master:** American black nightshade can produce many small berries that birds enjoy, helping to spread its seeds far and wide to new locations. - **Chemical Defender:** American black nightshade contains compounds called alkaloids, which can deter hungry herbivores from eating its leaves and unripe berries. - **Rapid Colonizer:** American black nightshade has a rapid growth rate and produces many seeds, allowing it to quickly colonize disturbed or open areas. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats ripe berries, aiding seed dispersal. - **Pollinates:** European Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar, transferring pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Colorado Potato Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/colorado-potato-beetle) (*Leptinotarsa decemlineata*) — Larvae sometimes feed on its leaves. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat any berries or plants unless an adult says it's safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American black nightshade? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is American black nightshade? 30-90 cm ### How wide does American black nightshade spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on American black nightshade? 0.5-1 cm ### When does American black nightshade bloom? Summer to Fall ### Is American black nightshade edible? No ### Is American black nightshade toxic? Moderate ### What is American black nightshade's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Foley Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foley-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Sonoma Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sonoma-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [The Gardens of the American Rose Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-gardens-of-the-american-rose-center) — Louisiana, US · Botanical Garden - [Texas State Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/texas-state-aquarium) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Metcalfe Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/metcalfe-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Zion Lodge–Birch Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zion-lodge-birch-creek-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District [View all places to see American black nightshade](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-black-nightshade) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [American black nightshade: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-black-nightshade)