Black Nightshade

Black Nightshade

Solanum nigrum L.

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

Seedling showing green leaf undersides found on this species ▼

Mature plant ▲

Fruit ▲

Black Nightshade:

much branched, summer annual weed, 1-4' tall
produces small white flowers and large, rounded (up to 1/2" diameter) blackish-purple fruit
grows in cultivated fields, gardens, waste areas
unripe berries may be poisonous
plants not spiny
eastern black nightshade similar and more common, but has smaller fruit (about 1/4" diameter) and usually leaf undersides are purplish, not green as on black nightshade
hairy nightshade is similar to eastern black nightshade, but leaves very hairy, berries stay greenish and usually don't darken much when ripe