Solanum carolinense aka Carolina Horsenettle

Solanum carolinense belongs to the nightshade family. Its common name is Carolina horse nettle. This herb lives for years and may form a low, woody base. It is native to eastern Canada and the United States. Its native range also includes northern Mexico and Haiti. It grows in pastures, crop fields, roadsides, and disturbed ground. Plants stand upright or sprawl, reaching 4 feet [1.2 metres] tall. Deep taproots help it form patches that are hard to clear. Spreading rhizomes, or underground stems, help these patches grow. Seeds also spread the plant to new sites.

The green stems may branch and bend at their joints. Sharp prickles and star-shaped hairs grow on the stems. The stems turn woody with age. Yellow prickles also grow on the leaf stalks. Dull green leaves grow in turn along the stems. Some leaves are oblong, while others have an egg shape. They have uneven lobes and wavy edges. Star-shaped hairs on both sides give them a coarse look. Crushed leaves smell like potato.

Flowers bloom from summer into fall, alone or in groups. Each has five white or pale violet petals. The petals bend back around yellow stamens that stick out. Bumblebees and other insects move pollen between the blooms. Round green berries look like tiny tomatoes before they ripen. They turn yellow in fall, and their skin grows wrinkled. Each berry holds many seeds. Fruits may stay on the plant through winter. Quail, wild turkeys, and some small mammals eat them.

This plant prefers full sun and soil that drains well. It grows in sand, loam, and clay. It can cope with wet or dry conditions. North Carolina State lists USDA hardiness zones 7a–10b. The flowers and fruit feed wildlife. Yet its spread makes it a poor choice for most gardens. Several states class it as a noxious weed. Patches can resist some weedkillers and prove hard to remove. Wear gloves and clothes that guard against its sharp prickles. Colorado potato beetles feed on it. So do eggplant flea beetles and tobacco hornworms. Reports also note southern bacterial wilt as a problem.

All parts hold poisons, including solanine. Eating the plant can poison people, pets, and livestock. Severe cases can cause breathing failure, coma, or death. Plants For A Future reports that children have died from poisoning. It lists no known edible uses for this species. Past records describe Native Americans and early settlers using it as medicine. They used it to treat asthma, bronchitis, and epilepsy. These records do not mean this poisonous plant is safe to use. Records also note the use of leaves to kill insects.