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Carolina Horse Nettle, Bull Nettle, Devil's Tomato - Solanum carolinense


Family: Solanaceae - Potato family Genus Common Name: Nightshade Native Status: NativeDicot Perennial Subshrub Herb Leaves:Alternate
Solanum carolinense - Carolina Horse Nettle, Bull Nettle, Devil's Tomato. Not a true nettle, this is a member of the nightshade genus which includes the garden tomato. The Solanaceae family includes the Irish potato. In spite of the edible cousins, do not eat any part of this plant; as with most nightshades it is highly poisonous.

In spite of being a native plant, the deep-rooted and persistent Solanum carolinense is listed as a noxious weed in 7 of the 44 states where it is found.

Found in:
AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV

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Solanum carolinense

Distribution of Solanum carolinense in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2009-June-07Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The blossom of Carolina Horse Nettle is white to pale violet with long yellow anthers.
Solanum carolinense

Site: Robertson County, TN Date: 2013-July-13Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
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Solanum carolinense

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2009-July-09Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
Carolina Horse Nettle is weak-stemmed and can be sprawling, or erect to about 3 feed tall. The stems, petioles, and central leaf vein, and occasionally the leaf margins, have sharp and painful prickles. The leaves are usually shallowly lobed and up to about 5 inches long. They are pubescent on the upper surface and have sessile stellate (star-shaped) hairs on the lower surface.
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Solanum carolinense

Site: Gordon Coundy, GA Date: 2009-August-16Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
The unripe fruit of Solanum carolinense is green with pale green stripes (or maybe vice versa,) and is less than 20mm in diameter. The fruit of the similar Solanum viarum and S. capsicoides are more than 20mm. These fruits can be deadly poisonous if eaten.
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Solanum carolinense

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2018-November-03Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The fruit of Carolina Horse Nettle is yellow when ripe. These are 12mm to 15mm in diameter; they may be up to 20mm. These fruits can be deadly poisonous if eaten.
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Solanum carolinense

References used for identification and information:
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Solanum carolinense initially published on USWildflowers.com 2009-07-05; Updated 2018-11-03

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302