Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Silverleaf nightshade, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Stem

1-3 ft. tall, branched and densely covered with short hairs; sometimes covered with red to yellow spines less than 0.2 in. long

Photo of silverleaf nightshade plant with yellow berries.

Leaves

Alternate; oval to lance-shaped and 3-6 in. long with wavy or lobed edges (margins); usually NO spines on leaf veins; covered with tiny hairs that are star-shaped with magnification; gives the plant a gray or silvery appearance

Flower

Star-shaped, 0.75-1.5 in. diameter, purple to blue with 5 petals and yellow stamens; usually 3-5 flowers clustered on stalks at tips of branches
Berries are round, shiny, yellow, 0.25-0.5 in. diameter and resemble tiny tomatoes

Root

Deep, creeping root system

Other

Often infests rangeland, roadsides, waste areas and crop fields; native to North America; known to occur in Clark, Elko and Nye counties
Perennial; reproduces by seeds and roots
Toxic to livestock and humans
Also known as white horsenettle

Control

Repeated hand-digging can be effective; DO NOT use tillage, mowing or grazing
Apply 2,4-D, aminopyralid, dicamba, or glyphosate to young, actively growing plants; imazapyr to actively growing plants; picloram at full flower

Learn more about the author(s)

Wendy Hanson Mazet

Heidi Kratsch

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Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Silverleaf nightshade