Potato Vine
(Solanum laxum)
Potato Vine (Solanum laxum)
/
/
RoyFocker
Public domain
Image By:
RoyFocker
Recorded By:
Copyright:
Public domain
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: RoyFocker | License Type: Public domain | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/ | Uploader: RoyFocker | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Solanum_2.JPG | Notes: *Description: Bamberger Hörnle, festkochende Kartoffelsorte *Source: selbst fotografiert, Dezember 2005 *Photographer: Alice Wiegand, ([[User:Lyzzy|Lyzzy]]) |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Solanum laxum, commonly known as Potato Vine or Jasmine Nightshade, is an evergreen vine native to Brazil and Paraguay, often found in open woodlands and on forest edges. It is a vigorous climber that uses its leaf stalks to twine around supports, reaching lengths of 2 to 8 meters with a base diameter exceeding 10 centimeters. Its appearance is characterized by woody branches and dense foliage, with white to pale blue flowers that are showy and fragrant, resembling those of jasmine. The flowers are borne in clusters of about 20 on branched inflorescences, blooming profusely in spring and sporadically throughout the year. Following the flowering period, the plant produces dark blue to black berries, approximately 8 mm in diameter, which are ornamental but toxic if ingested.
Potato Vine is valued for its fast growth, ease of maintenance, and the ability to provide quick coverage. It is widely used for covering walls, trellises, and fences, and is also suitable for container planting. The cultivar ’Album’, with its pure white flowers, has been recognized with the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, highlighting its desirability for garden use. Solanum laxum thrives in a sheltered position with full sun exposure, requiring high to medium water levels and well-drained soil to perform best. It is hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F), but may need protection in colder climates.CC BY-SA 4.0
Potato Vine is valued for its fast growth, ease of maintenance, and the ability to provide quick coverage. It is widely used for covering walls, trellises, and fences, and is also suitable for container planting. The cultivar ’Album’, with its pure white flowers, has been recognized with the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, highlighting its desirability for garden use. Solanum laxum thrives in a sheltered position with full sun exposure, requiring high to medium water levels and well-drained soil to perform best. It is hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F), but may need protection in colder climates.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Vine
- Height: 25-30 feet
- Width: 5-6 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: White
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Native to open woodlands and forest edges in Brazil and Paraguay
Other Names
Common Names: Potato Vine, Potato Climber, Jasmin-Nachtschatten, Stjärnsöta
Scientific Names: , Solanum jasminoides, Solanum laxum, Solanum boerhaviifolium, Solanum boerhaviaefolium, Solanum jasminoides var. glaberrimum, Solanum jasminoides var. pilosum, Solanum jasminoides var. pubinerve, Solanum boerhaviifolium var. calvum, Solanum jasminoides var. boerhaviifolium
GBIF Accepted Name: Solanum laxum Spreng.