Solanum umbelliferum

Common Names

Blue Witch Nightshade, Bluewitch Nightshade, Bluewitch, Nightshade, Island Nightshade, Purple Nightshade, Clokey's Nightshade, Bald Blue-Witch Nightshade, Hoffmann's Nightshade, Hoary Nightshade, Parish Nightshade, Narrow-Lobed Nightshade

Summary

Blue Witch Nightshade (Solanum umbelliferum) is a native California shrub or subshrub with a mounding to spreading habit, sometimes vining, reaching about 2–3 feet tall and wide, it features grey-green, hairy stems and lavender to blue-purple flowers with five fused petals and yellow anthers, and small spherical green fruits that ripen to purple, it is native to California and western North America, commonly found in chaparral and oak woodland communities from northern California to Baja California and east into Arizona, in cultivation, it grows best in full sun to partial shade with well-drained, dry soils and is drought-tolerant once established, hardy to USDA Zones 7–10, deer resistant and all parts poisonous, propagation is by treated seed or rooted layers, with seeds requiring a one-hour acid or hot water treatment, it suits dry rock gardens, perennial borders, or container plantings, flowers attract bees and fruits are eaten by birds

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-3 feet

Spread

2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-12

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Blue to Purple

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Grey-green

Fall Foliage Color

Grey-green

Leaf Lifecycle

Semi-deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and birds