black nightshade
ExplorePlants
black nightshade
Solanum nigrum
Black nightshade is a plant with small, round black berries and green leaves. It grows in many places and can be found in gardens and fields. Be careful, as not all parts of the plant are safe to eat!
Habitat: Urban areas
Appearance
The black nightshade is a bushy plant with small, star-shaped white flowers and bright yellow centers. Its distinctive round berries start green, ripening to a glossy black, often appearing in clusters.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSolanalesFamilySolanaceaeGenusSolanum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its leaves are sometimes eaten as a vegetable, but ONLY if cooked!
Some closely related plants are potatoes and tomatoes!
The 'nightshade' name comes from its dark, ripe berries!
This plant is found on almost every continent in the world!
Special abilities
Ability
Toxic Shield
Black nightshade can produce a compound called solanine that makes its unripe berries bitter and toxic, helping it defend against herbivores.
Ability
Berry Spreader
Black nightshade has dark, ripe berries that attract birds, who eat them and help spread its seeds far and wide, aiding reproduction.
Ability
Tough Colonizer
Black nightshade can grow rapidly and thrive in disturbed soils, helping it quickly colonize open ground and outcompete other plants.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-120 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer-fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen from its small flowers
eaten by
American robin
Turdus migratorius
consumes ripe black berries, aiding seed dispersal
eats
Colorado potato beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata
may feed on its leaves as it's a host plant
parasitizes
Early blight fungus
Alternaria solani
can cause leaf spot and blight, affecting plant health
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Agricultural
This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
Toxic
Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure.
Poisonous
Poisonous organisms produce toxins that can cause harm when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through contact.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
Black Berry
Collections
Safety
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Do not eat any part of this plant without asking an adult first, as it can be harmful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is black nightshade?
30-120 cm
How big are the flowers on black nightshade?
0.5-1 cm
When does black nightshade bloom?
Summer-fall
Is black nightshade edible?
No
Is black nightshade toxic?
Moderate
What is black nightshade's lifecycle?
Annual
How is black nightshade pollinated?
Insect
Where is black nightshade usually found?
Urban areas
Snap Map
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