bittersweet nightshade
(Solanum dulcamara L.)

Overview

Appearance

Solanum dulcamara is a perennial vine or scrambling shrub with slender stems that can reach up to 6.6 ft. (2 m) tall, either erect or clambering.

Foliage

Leaves are dark-green to purplish, petiolate, alternate, 3 lobed (upper part of the stem), acuminate and up to 3.1 in. (7.9 cm) long.

Flowers

Flowering occurs in May to November, when purple flowers develop. Petals are recurved and up to 0.4 in. (1 cm) long. Stamens are bright yellow and fused together around the stigma.

Fruit

Mature fruits are red, shiny, round or egg-shaped, 0.4 in. (1 cm) long berries with about 30 yellow colored, flattened seeds.

Ecological Threat

Solanum dulcamara invades thickets, fence rows, pond margins, low woods and roadsides. It is native to Eurasia. All parts of the plants are toxic. Always wear gloves and protective clothing when handling this plant.

Resources

• Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service

Selected Images

Maps

Invasive Listing Sources

• City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
• Connecticut Invasive Plant List
• Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
• Connecticut Noxious Weeds
• Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin
• Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
• Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council - Moderate Threat
• Michigan Noxious Weeds
• National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
• Native Plant Society of Oregon, 2008
• New Hampshire Invasive Plant Species Watch List
• New Invaders of the Southeast
• Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program Tracked Species List
• WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States

References