• Photo of Solanum dulcamara (Solanum dulcamaras)

Plant Profile: Solanum dulcamara

Taxonomy: Solanum dulcamara

Names

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

  • Photo of Solanum dulcamara (Solanum dulcamaras)

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
Fruit
Bright red fruits
Red/Burgundy
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.
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
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
Landscape
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Weedy
Problem for Children

Solanum dulcamara Attributes

Solanum dulcamara: Country Or Region Of Origin

Azores, Temp. Eurasia to N. Indo-China and NW. Africa

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

grass
Red/Burgundy

Solanum dulcamara Flowers

Solanum dulcamara: Flower Description

small, 5-parted, purple, pale violet, blue, white flowers

Solanum dulcamara: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
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

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
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