Nightshades

The members of the Solanaceae family are commonly known as nightshades. In addition to many edible plants, this family also includes some very poisonous species.

Apple of Peru Nicandra physalodes

Nicandra physalodes

Edible: No, all parts of the plant are poisonous.

tollkirsche-blüte

Atropa belladonna

Bell pepper Candy Cane

Bell pepper “Candy Cane”

Capsicum annuum

Origin: The wild type (Capsicum annuum) originates from Central America, North America, South America

Edible: "Candy Cane" peppers can be used like other bell peppers.

Season: Summer to early fall

Solanum dulcamara

Edible: No

Bittersweet Nightshade

Bittersweet, Bittersweet Nightshade

Solanum dulcamara

Black Henbane Hyoscyamus niger

Hyoscyamus niger

Black Nightshade

Black Nightshade

Solanum nigrum

Origin: Asia, Europe, North Africa

Edible: No, all parts of the plant are toxic.

Black Nightshade

Black Nightshade, Blackberry Nightshade

Solanum nigrum

Calibrachoa-Hybriden

Calibrachoa cv.

Calibrachoa Superbells Yellow

Calibrachoa “Superbells Yellow”

Datura stramonium

Datura stramonium

Eggplant Lucilla

Eggplant “Lucilla”

Solanum melongena "Lucilla"

Origin: Tropical Aisa, Madagascar

Edible: The peel and the flesh are edible.

Season: The main season lasts from summer to early autumn. But aubergines are available all year round.

Lycium barbarum

Edible: The berries are edible.

Hairy Nightshade

Hairy Nightshade

Solanum villosum

Origin: Europe, Eurasia (Caucasus), West Asia (Turkey), North Africa (Tunisia)

Edible: No, all parts of the plant are toxic.

Hyoscyamus niger

Hyoscyamus niger

Lycianthes rantonnetii

Lycianthes rantonnetii

Blue Potato Bush

Origin: South America

Height, habit: Evergreen shrub, up to three meters

lycium barbarum

Lycium barbarum

Apple of Peru

Nicandra physalodes

Tobaco

Nicotiana tabacum

Tobaco

Origin: Not naturally occurring.

Height: 100 to 300 centimeters

unripe berries Solanum sarrachoides

Nighshade (hairy, leaf-fruited)

Solanum sarrachoides

Edible: No, contains solanine.

petunien rosa

Petunia × hybrida

Petunia Mystical Phantom

Petunia “Mystical” ‘Phantom’

Petunia Peppy Blue

Petunia “Peppy” ‘Blue’

Bladder Cherry

Physalis alkekengi

Bladder Cherry, Chinese Lantern

Origin: Asia, Europe

Edible: No

Cape Gooseberry

Physalis peruviana

Physalis, Cape Gooseberry, Goldenberry

Origin: South America (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela) and as an introduced species also in other regions.

Height: 50 to 150 centimeters

Edible: The ripe fruits are edible.

Physalis peruviana

Physalis peruviana

Schizanthus × wisetonensis

Schizanthus × wisetonensis

Solanum dulcamara

Solanum dulcamara

Bittersweet, Bittersweet Nightshade

Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe

Solanum evolvulifolium

Solanum evolvulifolium

Origin: South America

Height: The shoots reach lengths of 20 up to 50 centimeters.

USDA zone: 13 (59 °F/15 °C)

Poisonous: Yes, all parts of the plant are slightly poisonous.

Solanum laxum

Jasmine nightshade

Origin: South America

Height, habit: Shrub-like climbing plant, up to 8 meters

Black Nightshade, Hound's Berry

Origin: Africa, Asia, Europa, naturalized in other regions

Edible: No. All parts of the Black Nightshade are poisonous.

Solanum pseudocapsicum

Solanum pseudocapsicum

Jerusalem Cherry, Madeira Winter Cherry

Origin: Central to South America

Edible: No

Solanum sarrachoides

Solanum sarrachoides

Hairy nightshade

Origin: South America

Height, habit: Annual herbaceous plant, 10 to 60 centimeters

Solanum tuberosum

Solanum villosum

Solanum villosum

Datura stramonium Thorn Apple

Datura stramonium

Thorn Apple, Common

Datura stramonium

Edible: No

tomato plant Solanum lycopersicum

Urban Nightshades

Solanaceae