Solanum dulcamara: Country Or Region Of Origin
Azores, Temp. Eurasia to N. Indo-China and NW. Africa
Plant Profile: Solanum dulcamara
Taxonomy: Solanum dulcamaraNames
Bittersweet, Blue Blindweed, Blue Nightshade, Climbing Nightshade, Deadly Nightshade, Devil's Apple, European Bittersweet, Felonwort, Poisonous Nightshade, Scarlet Berry, Soda Apple, Violet Bloom, Woody Nightshade
Phonetic Spelling:so-LAN-num dull-kah-MAH-rah
Genus:Solanum
Species:dulcamara
Family:Solanaceae
Bittersweet is a toxic, woody vine belonging to the nightshade family. This plant can be found throughout the state in various environments, including cultivated lands, disturbed sites, along roadsides, at the borders of damp woodlands, in abandoned areas, and within naturalized regions.
Solanum dulcamara Feature Summary
Solanum dulcamara Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#poisonous
#weedy
#red fruits
#disturbed areas
#naturalized area
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for children
#problem for horses
Similar Plants
Solanum dulcamara Feature Summary
Attributes
Azores, Temp. Eurasia to N. Indo-China and NW. Africa
Mountains
Woody
Scrambler
Fruit
Flowers
small, 5-parted, purple, pale violet, blue, white flowers
Purple/Lavender
White
Blue
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
Alternate, simple, usually with basal, ear-like lobe.
Deciduous
Simple
Alternate
Poisonous to Humans
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, low heart rate, diarrhea, weakness, respiratory depression; may be fatal to humans, pets and livestock.
Solanine and other alkaloids
High
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Stem
Landscape
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Weedy
Problem for Children
Solanum dulcamara Image Gallery
Solanum dulcamara Attributes
Solanum dulcamara: Distribution
Mountains
Solanum dulcamara: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Solanum dulcamara: Climbing Method
Clinging
Scrambler
Tendrils
Twining
Solanum dulcamara Fruit
Solanum dulcamara: Fruit Description
Bright red fruits
Solanum dulcamara: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Solanum dulcamara: Fruit Color
Red/Burgundy
Solanum dulcamara Flowers
Solanum dulcamara: Flower Description
small, 5-parted, purple, pale violet, blue, white flowers
Solanum dulcamara: Flower Color
Blue
Purple/Lavender
White
Solanum dulcamara: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Solanum dulcamara Leaves
Solanum dulcamara: Leaf Description
Alternate, simple, usually with basal, ear-like lobe.
Solanum dulcamara: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Solanum dulcamara: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Solanum dulcamara: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Solanum dulcamara: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Solanum dulcamara Poisonous to Humans
Solanum dulcamara: Poison Symptoms
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, low heart rate, diarrhea, weakness, respiratory depression; may be fatal to humans, pets and livestock.
Solanum dulcamara: Poison Toxic Principle
Solanine and other alkaloids
Solanum dulcamara: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Solanum dulcamara: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Solanum dulcamara: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Solanum dulcamara Whole Plant Traits
Solanum dulcamara: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Solanum dulcamara: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Solanum dulcamara: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Solanum dulcamara: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Solanum dulcamara Cultural Conditions
Solanum dulcamara: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Solanum dulcamara: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Solanum dulcamara Stem
Solanum dulcamara: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Solanum dulcamara Landscape
Solanum dulcamara: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
