Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Solanum douglasii is a species of nightshade known by the common name greenspot nightshade. It is native to the northern half of Mexico and the southwestern south-central United States. Its habitat includes scrub and woodland. Solanum douglasii is a perennial herb or subshrub approaching two meters in maximum height. The stem is coated in short, white hairs. The leaves may be up to 9 centimeters long and have smooth or toothed edges. The inflorescence is an umbel-shaped array of flowers with star-shaped white corollas up to a centimeter wide. There are generally green spots at the bases of the corolla lobes. The yellow anthers are a few millimeters in length. Flowers may be seen blooming throughout much of the year. The fruit is a spherical berry up to a centimeter wide. Native Americans used the juice of the berries medicinally, and as dye for tattooing.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

4 - 7 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

White, Lavender

Flowering season

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Extremely Low, Very Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment; sow outdoors in late summer. Spring sowing gives fair

Site type

Dry places

Plant communities

Chaparral, Closed-cone Pine Forest, Coastal Sage Scrub, Coastal Strand, Wetland-Riparian

Birds
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 33 likely

Confirmed Likely

Ipsilon Dart

Agrotis ipsilon

Old Man Dart

Agrotis vetusta

Orange Tortrix Moth

Argyrotaenia franciscana

Alfalfa Looper Moth

Autographa californica