purple nightshade

Solanum umbelliferum var. xanti grows as a perennial herb or subshrub producing a branching hairy stem up to about 90 centimetres (35 in) in maximum height. The leaves are up to 7 centimeters long and are lance-shaped to oval, mostly unlobed except for occasional lobes at the bases of the blades. It flowers from February to June in the wild, bearing an umbel-shaped inflorescence with many purple-blue flowers up to 3 centimeters wide. The fruit is a green berry 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide.

The plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty plant nurseries for planting in perennial border, drought-tolerant and native plant gardens. It grows from sunny locations to dry shade, such as under native oaks. The plant is deer resistant, due to its toxic qualities. In common with many other members in the Solanaceace family, all parts of the plant are toxic, especially the unripe fruit. Toxicity is from Solanine and glycol-alkaloids, chaconine, and solasodine. There is no antidote for Solanum poisoning. Symptoms include:

Cardiovascular system (tachycardia, arrhythmia, and hypotension) Central nervous system (delirium, psychomotor, agitation, paralysis, coma, and convulsion) Gastrointestinal tract (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) Selections Cultivars available include:

Solanum umbelliferum var. xanti 'Mountain Pride' — Mountain Pride purple nightshade (large dark purple flowers)