Solanum nigrum
Black nightshade
(c) Frederick Nunley, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Solanaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Solanum nigrum (Black nightshade) is a non-native California subshrub in the Solanaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by black fruits lacking stone cells.
Black nightshade is a naturalized perennial found in northern coastal California, northern central Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, and expected in other regions in disturbed places at elevations up to 1,600 meters. Flowering from March to October, this plant produces white flowers with greenish yellow throats and midvein bases, approximately 10 to 15 millimeters in diameter. Growing with spreading or curved stems 10 to 100 centimeters tall, it has both glandular and glandless hairs. Its leaves are 4 to 7 centimeters long, ovate in shape, and range from entire to coarsely wavy-toothed. The fruit is black, occasionally yellow or greenish, 6 to 10 millimeters long, and contains 20 to 40 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 21 sympatric species. Distinguished by black fruits lacking stone cells.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: <= 1600 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Inyo, Lake, Orange, Ventura, Siskiyou, Yolo, San Francisco, Sacramento, Shasta, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Glenn, Marin, Tehama, Alameda, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Monterey, Sonoma, Solano, Plumas, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Butte, Napa, San Mateo
Outside California: to Washington, eastern United States, native to Eurasia, a worldwide weed
Bloom period
Solanum nigrum blooms Mar-Oct.
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 nigrum native to California?
No. Solanum nigrum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Solanum nigrum bloom?
Solanum nigrum blooms Mar-Oct.
Where in California does Solanum nigrum grow?
Solanum nigrum occurs in Los Angeles, Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Inyo, Lake, Orange and other counties, at elevations of <= 1600 m.
What plant family does Solanum nigrum belong to?
Solanum nigrum is in the Solanaceae family, genus Solanum.
What habitat does Solanum nigrum grow in?
Solanum nigrum grows in Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.