Solanum nigrum, commonly known as black nightshade, is an annual or perennial herb native to Eurasia and introduced to the Americas, Australasia, and South Africa. It thrives in a variety of habitats including disturbed areas, agricultural land, and gardens, often found in temperate and subtropical regions. This plant typically grows 12 to 47 inches tall and features ovate, toothed leaves with small, star-shaped white flowers that bloom in the summer. The flowers give way to dull black or purple-black berries that are notable for their toxicity when unripe.

Black nightshade is recognized for its historical use as food and medicine, particularly in certain cultures that consume the boiled leaves and ripe berries, despite the plant’s toxic properties. It is adaptable to a range of soil types, preferring moist, well-drained conditions and full sun to partial shade. While it can be a useful plant in some traditional medicinal gardens, it is often considered a weed in agricultural settings due to its rapid growth and self-seeding tendencies. Gardeners should be cautious as it can be invasive in some regions and its presence can be problematic due to its toxicity to humans and livestock when ingested in its unripe form.CC BY-SA 4.0