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Solanum virginianum

 
Solanum virginianum
kantakari; Surrattense nightshade
Synonym(s) Solanum surrattense; S. xanthocarpum
Common name kantakari; Surrattense nightshade
Family solanaceae
Life cycle annual or tender perennial
Flowers white (summer)
Size 24"
Light sun
From seed germinate warm; nicking husk may help
detailed seed-starting info below
Seed ripensmid-October

One of the spiny solanums - we've grown several over the years, each with its own defining characteristics, but all with vicious thorns. This one's thorns aren't the main attraction, nor is it the modest white flowers in early summer. Nope, the real show comes in late summer, when the fruit ripens. Starting with a stripey green, the fruit passes through a yellow stage to finally arrive at orange-red - all shaped like smallish squat tomatoes. A plant with each of the colors present looks quite festive!
Note: I received a comment suggesting that this is in fact Solanum aculeatissimum, which is native to South America and also grows in Africa. A lot of these species are quite similar, so it's hard for a non-botanist to tell for sure!

Solanum virginianum

This plant used to grow in our garden, but it slipped away...

Read the other spiny solanums in our garden

Seed for this plant is included on my seed trade list

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PlantLinks to other web pages about Solanum virginianum


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Seed-starting details for this plant

  1. Seed from '05 trade. Baggy 75F (15%G, 14-28d; germination started shortly after cutting a few of the papery husks surrounding the seeds)
  2. Seed from '06 garden. Baggy 75F (100%G, 5-12d)
  3. Seed from '07 garden. Baggy 75F (95%G, 7-16d)
  4. Seed from '07 garden. Baggy 75F (100%G, 8-13d)
  5. Seed from '09 garden. Baggy 75F (89%G, 8-17d)


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