Solanum laciniatum
Kangaroo-apple
(c) Murray NZ, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Murray NZ · licence
Family: Solanaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Solanum laciniatum (Kangaroo-apple) is a non-native California shrub in the Solanaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by large ruffled blue-violet flowers and coastal habitat.
Kangaroo-apple is a naturalized shrub found in northern California Coast and northern Central Coast regions in open, disturbed places near coastal and urban areas at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces blue-violet flowers with ruffled margins and notched lobe tips, approximately 30 to 50 millimeters in diameter. Growing 2 to 4 meters tall with an evergreen habit, it develops generally glabrous stems that support large, lanceolate to elliptic leaves. Its leaves can reach 10 to 40 centimeters long, often with 1 to 3 pairs of entire, lanceolate lobes along the margins. The fruit develops as a yellow to orange, nearly ovoid structure about 15 to 20 millimeters in diameter, containing numerous small seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species. Distinguished by large ruffled blue-violet flowers and coastal habitat.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Escaped from cultivation, invasive in open, generally disturbed places especially near coast, urban areas
Elevation: < 400 m
Outside California: native to Australia and New Zealand
Bloom period
Solanum laciniatum blooms Jun-Oct.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Lycianthes: Solanum anthers open by pores at tips; Lycianthes anthers split lengthwise.; vs Physalis: Solanum lacks papery lantern around fruit; Physalis has distinctive inflated calyx covering the berry.; vs Phacelia: Solanum has yellow anther cone; Phacelia has protruding stamens and coiled flower clusters.; vs Capsicum: Solanum has rotate star flowers; Capsicum has flowers with spreading petals not forming flat star.; vs Salvia: Solanum has 5 stamens forming yellow cone; Salvia has 2 stamens and square stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Solanum laciniatum native to California?
No. Solanum laciniatum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Solanum laciniatum bloom?
Solanum laciniatum blooms Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Solanum laciniatum belong to?
Solanum laciniatum is in the Solanaceae family, genus Solanum.
Is Solanum laciniatum invasive in California?
Solanum laciniatum is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Solanum laciniatum grow in?
Solanum laciniatum grows in Escaped from cultivation, invasive in open, generally disturbed places especially near coast, urban areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.