All flowers
Bittersweet Nightshade Wikimedia Commons
Solanaceae

Bittersweet Nightshade

Solanum dulcamara

Truth and duality.

Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Native to
Europe, Asia, North Africa
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
herbaceous perennial vine
Height
3-10 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
Moist, fertile soil
Water
moderate
Hardiness
4-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The berries change color as they ripen, transitioning from green to yellow to bright red on the same cluster.
  • The common name 'bittersweet' refers to the taste of the root, which is first bitter then sweet.
  • Despite being toxic, the plant is related to tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants in the Solanaceae family.
  • The distinctive star-shaped purple flowers with a protruding yellow cone of stamens are unmistakable.
  • In medieval herbal medicine, it was used to treat skin conditions and was called 'felonwort.'

Color meanings

0

truth

1

bittersweet memories

Uses

  • traditional medicine
  • wildlife food source for birds