Bittersweet Nightshade
Solanum dulcamara
A herbaceous perennial vine with sprawling or climbing stems, featuring alternate leaves often lobed at the base, and clusters of spherical green fruits that ripen into red berries.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, typically requiring 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Prefers consistently moist soils; moderate drought tolerance once established
- Growth
- Deciduous scrambling vine or subshrub, growing 3 to 10 feet in length with a fast growth rate
Care instructions
Thrives in moist soils with partial shade to full sun. Tolerates a wide range of growing conditions and spreads readily through seed dispersion by wildlife.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade, typically requiring 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Prefers consistently moist soils; moderate drought tolerance once established
Soil
Adaptable to various soil types including clay, loam, and sand, with a preference for well-draining conditions and a neutral to slightly acidic pH range of 6.0 to 7.0
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 3 through 8
Growth habit
Deciduous scrambling vine or subshrub, growing 3 to 10 feet in length with a fast growth rate
Bloom season
Flowers from late spring through summer with small, star-shaped purple flowers featuring prominent yellow central anthers
Propagation
Propagates easily via seeds dispersed by animals, as well as by stem cuttings and root division
Common pests & issues
Generally resilient, but may occasionally be affected by common garden pests such as aphids and fungal leaf spots under overly humid conditions
Similar species
Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum), which generally grows as an upright annual herb rather than a sprawling vine and typically produces black berries upon maturity