# Deadly Nightshade (*Atropa bella-donna*)

Deadly Nightshade is a beautiful plant with purple flowers and shiny black berries. But be careful! It's very poisonous and not safe to touch or eat.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme
- **Habitat:** Forests
- **Also known as:** Belladonna

![Deadly Nightshade](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Atropa_belladonna_003.JPG&width=800)

Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atropa_belladonna_003.JPG)

## Appearance

The Deadly Nightshade has dull green, oval leaves and bell-shaped, purplish-brown flowers that hang downwards. Its most striking feature are the glossy, cherry-sized black berries, which appear jewel-like but are extremely dangerous.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Solanales
- **Family:** Solanaceae
- **Genus:** Atropa

## Interesting facts

- Ancient cultures used nightshade in potions for its mind-altering effects!
- Despite its danger, extracts from this plant are used in modern medicine!
- Its scientific name 'Atropa' comes from the Greek goddess of fate who cut the thread of life.
- Just a few berries can be fatal to a child. Never touch them!

## Special abilities

- **Potent Protector:** Deadly Nightshade creates powerful toxic compounds, like atropine, which deter most animals from eating its leaves and berries.
- **Bird Broadcaster:** While deadly to humans, some birds can eat its berries without harm, helping to spread its seeds to new locations.
- **Resilient Root:** Deadly Nightshade has a strong perennial rootstock, allowing it to regrow year after year even if its upper parts are damaged.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 50-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Deadly
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Consumes berries, aiding in seed dispersal.
- **Eaten by:** [Carrion Crow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carrion-crow) (*Corvus corone*) — Feeds on ripe berries, spreading seeds.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [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.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Toxic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/toxic): Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure.
- [Poisonous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/poisonous): Poisonous organisms produce toxins that can cause harm when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through contact.
- [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme

Never touch or eat any part of this plant. Always ask an adult if you're unsure.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Deadly 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 Deadly Nightshade?

50-150 cm

### How wide does Deadly Nightshade spread?

50-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Deadly Nightshade?

2-3 cm

### When does Deadly Nightshade bloom?

Summer

### Is Deadly Nightshade edible?

No

### Is Deadly Nightshade toxic?

Deadly

### What is Deadly Nightshade's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Deadly Nightshade: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deadly-nightshade)