Scopolia carniolica aka Scopolia
Taxonomy ID: 21302
Scopolia carniolica, or European scopolia, belongs to the nightshade family. It is a perennial from temperate parts of Europe and Asia. Its native range spans east-central and southeastern Europe to the western Caucasus. It grows in damp, stony places in hilly country. It also grows in moist, rocky beech woods. Some woodland sites lie around 3,280 feet [1,000 metres] above sea level.
This plant forms clumps and spreads through creeping rhizomes. It stands about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. The RHS gives a garden height and spread of 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. Plants take two to five years to reach full size. The green leaves have a glossy surface and clear veins. Their wrinkled texture adds interest before the plant dies back. It loses its leaves and rests during summer.
Single, bell-shaped flowers grow where the leaves meet the stems. They open in the middle to latter part of spring. Their outer surfaces range from reddish purple to reddish brown. Inside, the bells show a pale yellow-green shade. The plant dies back once its flowering season ends. Its spring growth suits beds and borders in informal gardens. Woodland edges and sites with dappled shade also suit it. Deep shade is not the preferred setting.
Choose partial shade and a sheltered spot for garden plants. Give them humus-rich soil that stays moist but drains well. Neutral or slightly alkaline soil suits this species. The RHS lists clay, chalk, loam, and sand as suitable soils. It assigns the plant an H6 hardiness rating. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8. The RHS reports few pest or disease problems. It needs no pruning. Divide clumps in spring, or sow seeds in autumn. Seeds can also go straight into the ground in spring.
This is not a food plant; no edible uses are known. The RHS warns that eating it poisons people and dogs. Wear gloves and protective equipment when handling it. Its rhizomes contain toxic alkaloids similar to those in deadly nightshade. Reported effects include sight problems, reduced sweating, and trouble passing urine. Its roots have medicinal uses and supply alkaloids for pharmaceuticals. Such use needs the care of a qualified practitioner.
Common names
Scopolia, European Scopolia, Nightshade Leaved HenbaneMore information about Scopolia
How difficult is it to grow Scopolia carniolica?
Scopolia carniolica is relatively undemanding once sited correctly. It requires a shaded to semi-shaded position in light to medium, well-drained soil. Given appropriate woodland-type conditions it establishes without special attention, making it a suitable choice for an experienced shade-garden grower who can manage a toxic plant safely.
How big does Scopolia carniolica grow?
This herbaceous perennial reaches approximately 60 cm in height and 60 cm in spread, growing at a medium rate. It dies back to ground level in winter and re-emerges in spring, producing its nodding flowers from April through June.
How much water does Scopolia carniolica need?
Scopolia carniolica tolerates both dry and moist soil conditions, making it adaptable. It does not require consistent moisture but performs best when not left in waterlogged ground. Regular watering is generally not necessary once established in a suitable shaded position.
What kind of soil does Scopolia carniolica prefer?
Grow in light (sandy) to medium (loamy), well-drained soil. The plant tolerates a pH range from mildly acid to mildly alkaline (neutral is ideal). Its natural habitat is moist rocky beech woodland, so a humus-rich woodland-type soil is ideal but not strictly required.
How much light does Scopolia carniolica need?
Scopolia carniolica thrives in full shade to semi-shade. It is well suited to woodland understory conditions and performs poorly in full sun. A north-facing border or the dappled shade beneath deciduous trees replicates its native habitat.
What temperature range does Scopolia carniolica tolerate?
Hardy to USDA zones 4–8 and UK hardiness zone 5, Scopolia carniolica tolerates cold winters reliably. As a herbaceous perennial it dies back completely in winter and re-sprouts from the rhizome in spring, providing natural frost protection.
What seasonal care does Scopolia carniolica need?
The plant is dormant in winter after the foliage dies back. In spring, new growth emerges from the rhizomes and flowers appear from April to June. Little intervention is needed during the growing season. After flowering, tidy spent stems if desired. In autumn, collected seed can be sown immediately for propagation.
What do Scopolia carniolica flowers look like?
Flowers are dark brownish-violet, pendulous (nodding), and bell-shaped, borne singly on long slender pedicels — characteristic of the Solanaceae family. They appear from April through June. The drooping habit and dark colouring give the plant a distinctive, somewhat sombre ornamental character.
Are there different varieties of Scopolia carniolica?
Scopolia carniolica is primarily known as a single species. A contested variety has been studied phytochemically to compare tropane alkaloid content with the type species, though horticultural literature does not describe widely cultivated named varieties.
How do you propagate Scopolia carniolica?
Seed is the primary propagation method: sow fresh seed in autumn as germination is reported to be quick and easy under these conditions.
What pests and diseases affect Scopolia carniolica?
No specific pest or disease problems are prominently documented for Scopolia carniolica in available horticultural sources. Its high alkaloid content may confer some natural pest resistance. Standard woodland garden hygiene practices apply.
How is Scopolia carniolica pollinated?
Scopolia carniolica is pollinated by insects. Peer-reviewed research established that the species relies on obligatory cross-pollination and is self-incompatible, meaning it cannot set seed from its own pollen and requires insect-mediated transfer between individual plants.
Is Scopolia carniolica edible?
Scopolia carniolica has an edibility rating of 0/5 — there are no known edible uses for any part of this plant. All parts, especially the rhizomes, are highly toxic due to tropane alkaloid content (atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine). Consumption has caused documented poisoning cases in humans.
What are the medicinal uses of Scopolia carniolica?
Scopolia carniolica has a medicinal rating of 2/5. Its rhizomes have been used medicinally as an antispasmodic, hypnotic, narcotic, and mydriatic. Applications include treatment of chronic diarrhea, dysentery, stomach ache, and liver and gallbladder complaints (the latter approved by German Commission E). The plant is the natural source of scopolamine, a pharmaceutical used historically as an anesthetic. All medicinal use must be under qualified supervision due to the plant's high toxicity. Phytochemical research has also identified flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin), coumarins, chlorogenic acid, scopolin, and scopoletin, with the last two showing acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.
Does Scopolia carniolica have other uses?
No practical other uses are documented for Scopolia carniolica beyond its pharmaceutical and medicinal significance (other uses rating 0/5). It is occasionally grown as an ornamental plant in shaded gardens for its unusual dark flowers, but no commercial or craft uses are recorded.
What is the region of origin of Scopolia
Is Scopolia toxic to humans/pets?
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