Typical plant

Typical plant growing in disturbed site. Photo by W. Hanson Mazet.

Nightshade leaf

The leaves have deep lobes. Photo by S. Donaldson.
 
  Nightshade flower
 
The small, white flowers have a yellow center. Photo by W. Hanson Mazet.
 

Seedlings leaves

Seedlings leaves are smooth and have a few coarse teeth. Photo by J. DiTomaso, UCCE.
 
Toxic berries
 
The toxic berries resemble cherry tomatoes, but do not turn red when mature. Photo by Photos by S. Donaldson.
 

 

Other common names

Cut-leaf nightshade, small nightshade

Scientific name

Solanum triflorum

Family

Solanaceae

Description

Cutleaf nightshade is a hairy plant that grows in a low, mounding form close to the ground or up to about 1½ feet tall. The foliage has an unpleasant odor. It is toxic to humans and animals. Toxicity varies widely, with seedlings, growing tips of plants and green berries being most toxic. Drying does not destroy the toxic alkaloids. Do NOT eat the berries.

  • Leaves

    One-half inch to 2 inches long, slightly hairy with deep lobes. The lobes can be toothed.

  • Stems

    Hairy and branched from the base. Flowers are attached to the stems between the leaves.

  • Flowers

    Small, star-shaped flowers are white with five petals and a yellowish center. Flowers occur in clusters of two or three and have a sweet scent. The tomato-like berries are small, green and somewhat striped or marbled in color.

  • Roots

    Grows a taproot.

Native to

North America and South America

Where it grows

Cultivated fields and disturbed sites; tolerates dry soil

Life cycle

Annual (sprouts, flowers and dies in a single year)

Reproduction

Reproduces by seed

Control methods

As with all annual plants, successful control relies on preventing seed production.

 

  • Mechanical

    Dig or pull small patches. Bag and dispose of plants if berries are present. The seeds germinate in the top 1 or 2 inches of soil, so till soils carefully to bury the seeds more deeply.

    Cultural

    Encourage thick, competitive vegetation.

    Biological

    No information is available. Grazing should be avoided due to toxicity.

    Chemical

    Apply broadleaf-selective herbicides such as 2,4-D + dicamba on young plants. Glyphosate may also be effective but is nonselective and can kill or damage other plants, including lawn grasses.

References

DiTomaso, J.M. and E.A. Healy. 2007. Weeds of California and Other Western States. University of California Publication 3488.

Miller, T.W. and R. Parker. 2006. Nightshade: Biology and Control in the Pacific Northwest. Pacific Northwest Extension Publication PNW0588, WSU

UC Berkeley Jepson Manual. 2012. Solanum triflorum Nutt., UC/JEPS.

USDA Plants profile, Solanum triflorum Nutt., USDA.

Whitson, Tom D. (editor). 2009. Weeds of the West. University of Wyoming, Jackson, Wyoming.

Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2012, A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Cutleaf Nightshade, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-13-12

Learn more about the author(s)

Wendy Hanson Mazet
Wendy Hanson Mazet
 

Also of Interest:

 
Photo of silverleaf nightshade plant with yellow colored berries.
Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Silverleaf nightshade
Silverleaf nightshade is a noxious weed that has been identified by the state of Nevada to be harmful to agriculture, the general public, or the environment. Learn more about this weed.
 Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide
 

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