Thicket/ Bittersweet Nightshade

COMMON NAME: Bittersweet Nightshade

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Bittersweet, Purple Nightshade, Blue Bindweed

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Solanum dulcamara

FAMILY: Solanaceae

COMMUNITY: Thicket

STATUS: Naturalized from Europe  

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: 2 to 8 feet

FLOWERING TIME: Mid May to September

FRUITING TIME: Early August to September

DISTRIBUTION: Nova Scotia to Georgia ~ Statewide in New Jersey

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Rhizomatous, shrubby below, climbing, or clambering, short hairy ~ Leaves broadly oval, others with pair of basal lobes ~ Flowers on stalks, light blue or violet ~ Fruit bright red, poisonous

GENERAL INFORMATION: This family (Solanaceae) commonly called the Nightshade Family of herbs, shrubs, trees, and woody vines is composed of 2000 species.  This family has many strong-scented plants and is a major source of foods, drugs, and ornamentals.  One species (Atropa belladonna, also called “deadly nightshade”) is a cultivated perennial in New Jersey.  The species contain toxic alkaloids. Of the 1000 or more species of nightshades found worldwide (most in the tropics), only about 30 kinds are found in the United States.  Bittersweet Nightshade can be found on open, usually moist ground of woods and shaded edges and in waste places. “Clambering” is defined as “climbing with both hands and feet”.  This is a perfect description of what Nightshade does, for it used neither tendrils (like grapes) nor disks (like Virginia Creeper), nor does it really twine (like Bittersweet).  More often it is found falling loosely over anything and in any way it can to support itself in the sunlight.  The result is a fairly sloppy appearance. Many species of wildlife feast on the fruit of Nightshades.  The fruit is closely related to eggplants and tomatoes.  Waterfowl, upland gamebirds, songbirds and small mammals all consume this food.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.