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Solanum carolinense Linnaeus var. carolinense. Common name: Carolina Horse-nettle, Ball-nettle. Phenology: Apr-Oct. Habitat: Fields, gardens, disturbed areas. Distribution: ME and MN, south to s. FL and TX; naturalized well beyond this area, and the original native distribution unclear.

ID notes: A very common, weedy native Solanum that is widespread across nearly all of our region, S. carolinense var. carolinense is a perennial herb or suffrutescent, to 1.2 m tall, with cream to yellow straight prickles to 6 mm long. The fruits are initially green (often mottled light / dark green), ripening to a medium orangy yellow, 1-2 cm in diameter.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Fl6, FNA14, K4, Mo3, NE, NY, Va, WH3, Wahlert, Chiarini, & Bohs (2015); = Solanum carolinense L. — S; < Solanum carolinense L. — Ar, C, F, G, GrPl, Il, Mi, NcTx, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tx, W, WV; Solanum carolinense L. Basionym: Solanum carolinense L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Solanum carolinense var. carolinense - FNA14

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (name change)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (name change)
  • Great Plains: UPL (name change)
  • Midwest: FACU (name change)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: A prickly, rhizomatous perennial with small yellow fruits resembling tomatoes, found in fields, gardens, and other disturbed areas throughout much of the U.S.

Stems: Stems simple or weakly branched, greenish-purple and hairy, with scattered white to yellowish spines.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, triangular to oval with irregular, angled lobes that often seem more like teeth; undersides with spines along the mid-vein.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers on hairy pedicels, in a small terminal cluster; white to light violet, about ¾ in. wide, star-shaped, with 5 petals that are united at the base and five prominently protruding elongated yellow anthers.

Fruits: Fruit a round, dull-yellow berry, about ½ in. long; it is toxic.

Comments: Solanum carolinense var. floridanum . . .??

Height: 1-3 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: A prickly, rhizomatous perennial with small yellow fruits resembling tomatoes, found in fields, gardens, and other disturbed areas throughout much of the U.S.

stems: Stems simple or weakly branched, greenish-purple and hairy, with scattered white to yellowish spines.

leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, triangular to oval with irregular, angled lobes that often seem more like teeth; undersides with spines along the mid-vein.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers on hairy pedicels, in a small terminal cluster; white to light violet, about ¾ in. wide, star-shaped, with 5 petals that are united at the base and five prominently protruding elongated yellow anthers.

fruits: Fruit a round, dull-yellow berry, about ½ in. long; it is toxic.

comments: Solanum carolinense var. floridanum . . .??

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



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