Horsenettle

Horsenettle, Bullnettle

Solanum carolinense L.

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

▲ ▼ young sprout from creeping roots

▲ ▼ young flowering plants

▲ spines on stems

▲ ▼ flowers

▲ ▼ immature and mature fruit

▲ stem showing section of deep, creeping root

Horsenettle, Bull nettle:

spiny creeping perennial weed that spreads by creeping roots (similar to groundcherries)
spiny stems, leaf undersides; grows 6-24" tall
flowers white/lavender; marble-sized, yellow, tomato-like fruit
prefers sandy soils, but will grow in all but very wet or compacted soils
alternate host for the potato beetle, and should be controlled if potatoes will be grown in the area
can be controlled by post-emergent herbicides and shading
Similar species, Robust Horsenettle:
- Flowers almost always purplish or purple-tinged
- Leaves have larger, more rounded lobes than horsenettle
- Leaf undersides have branched hairs with 8-12 branches per hair
Another similar species, Silverleaf Nightshade:
- Flowers almost always purple or blue
- Leaves and stems are covered in whitish hairs, giving them a silvery appearance; stems and leaves may or may not have spines
- Stems usually unbranched until flowering commences; fruit is similar to horsenettle