Solanum aethiopicum aka Gilo

Solanum aethiopicum is a food plant in the nightshade family. Its names include Ethiopian eggplant, bitter tomato and mock tomato. Kew records its origin as a cultivated plant from northeastern tropical Africa. Its exact original range remains unclear. Useful Tropical Plants reports no truly wild populations. Farmers grow it across tropical Africa, and it also reached Brazil.

This much-branched shrub forms woody stems as it ages. It can live for several years in suitable conditions. In Britain, gardeners grow it as an annual. Plants reach about 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres] tall and wide. The RHS gives one year as its time to maturity. It sheds its leaves, and some plants bear prickles. These may occur on both leaves and branches. Other plants lack them.

White flowers appear in summer, followed by tomato-like fruit. Fruit size and colour vary within the species. Bees and other insects visit the flowers. The plant is also self-fertile. Growers raise it for food in farms and home gardens. They also grow it for display. Its fruit suits edible beds, while containers offer another growing option. People eat the fruit raw or cooked. They cook both unripe and ripe fruit in vegetable dishes. The taste can be bitter. Sources also record leaves and young shoots as food.

Give this plant full sun and a sheltered site. The RHS accepts loam, sand or clay soils. Soil should stay moist but drain well. Acid or neutral soil suits it. Keep plants well watered during growth. Once fruit begins to form, use a feed rich in potassium. Containers can stand outdoors in a sunny place during summer. A greenhouse offers another setting. Sow seed indoors in early spring. The RHS says routine pruning is not needed. Its UK hardiness rating is H1B, for summer outdoor growing. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12.

Watch for glasshouse red spider mites, slugs and snails. Verticillium wilt may affect the plant. Honey fungus is another, less frequent risk. PFAF records traditional medicinal uses of roots, fruit and leaves. These reports do not establish safe or effective treatments. Its hazard note gives no confirmed toxicity specific to this species. Instead, it warns about poisonous relatives in the genus. That warning does not settle this plant’s safety. The evidence supports food uses, but not unrestricted use of every part.