Solanum marginatum
White-margined nightshade, White-Margined Nightshade
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Family: Solanaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Solanum marginatum (White-margined nightshade) is a non-native California shrub in the Solanaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by white leaf margins and large mottled fruits.
White-margined nightshade is a naturalized perennial found in coastal California regions including the central and southern coast in disturbed places at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from January to September, this plant produces white to pale purple flowers 30 to 40 millimeters in diameter with purple petal midveins and throat. Growing as a shrub up to 2 meters tall with distinctive pale orange prickles 5 to 12 millimeters long, it has a coarsely prickly texture with dense stellate hairs. Its large 8 to 23 centimeter leaves are widely ovate with cordate bases, wavy-lobed margins, and densely white-stellate undersides that appear white-margined and green. The fruit is tough and mottled dark green and white, eventually turning yellow, containing numerous small seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species. Distinguished by white leaf margins and large mottled fruits.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: < 500 m
Outside California: native to eastern Africa, Asia, introduced South America, Europe, Atlantic Islands, Australia
Bloom period
Solanum marginatum blooms Jan-Sep.
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 marginatum native to California?
No. Solanum marginatum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Solanum marginatum bloom?
Solanum marginatum blooms Jan-Sep.
What plant family does Solanum marginatum belong to?
Solanum marginatum is in the Solanaceae family, genus Solanum.
What habitat does Solanum marginatum grow in?
Solanum marginatum grows in Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.