Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum
Blue witch nightshade
(c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Solanaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum (Blue witch nightshade) is a native California subshrub in the Solanaceae family, recognized by umbel-like inflorescence, bluish-lavender flowers, and canescent herbage.
Blue witch nightshade is a California native perennial found in brushy and wooded sites at elevations up to 1,000 meters. Flowering from January to June, this plant produces bluish lavender flowers about 15 to 20 millimeters in diameter in small umbel-like clusters. Growing up to 1.2 meters tall with gray-green stems covered in fine branched hairs, it forms a distinctive subshrub with a delicate appearance. Its leaves are elliptic to ovate, 2 to 7.5 centimeters long, with entire margins or occasionally few-lobed near the base. The fruit is a greenish white berry 8 to 15 millimeters long, darkening to green at the base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; key features are umbel-like inflorescence, bluish-lavender flowers, and canescent herbage
Habitat and range
Habitat: Brushy and wooded sites
Elevation: <= 1000 m
Bloom period
Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum blooms Jan-Jun.
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 umbelliferum var. umbelliferum native to California?
Yes. Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum bloom?
Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum blooms Jan-Jun.
What plant family does Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum belong to?
Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum is in the Solanaceae family, genus Solanum.
What habitat does Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum grow in?
Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum grows in Brushy and wooded sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Solanum umbelliferum var. wallacei — Island nightshade
- Solanum umbelliferum var. xanti — Purple nightshade
- Solanum americanum — American black nightshade
- Solanum carolinense var. carolinense — Carolina horse-nettle
- Solanum clokeyi — Island Nightshade
- Solanum douglasii — Greenspot nightshade
- Calibrachoa parviflora — Wild petunia
- Calibrachoa sp.
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.