Solanum seaforthianum aka Brazilian Nightshade

Solanum seaforthianum is a vine in the nightshade family. It has woody stems and stays green all year. Its names include Brazilian nightshade, potato creeper, and St Vincent lilac. It lives for years in warm climates. Kew gives its native range as Mexico to Venezuela and the Caribbean. This range includes Brazil's Fernando de Noronha islands, too. Missouri Botanical Garden says its first home range is still unclear. People grow it for looks in tropical and subtropical regions.

This vine twines as it climbs around a support. It grows to about 20 feet [6.1 metres] tall. In gardens, it spreads about 6 feet [1.83 metres]. Its woody stems wrap around supports as they grow. It stays green and gives warm gardens a year-round presence. Growers train it on arbors, fences, gazebos, and trellises. These suit the way it climbs and show off its hanging blooms. Give it room so it will not crowd nearby plants.

Loose groups of flowers nod from the leaf axils. These are the points where leaves join the stems. The flower groups have the name cymes. Each can span about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres]. The blooms are blue-purple, but some are pink or white. They have a scent and give the vine its main show. Missouri Botanical Garden gives July to August as its bloom season. The fruit adds to its looks, and the plant draws birds. The source text gives no fruit colour or shape.

Grow this vine in full sun or part shade. It likes rich soil that drains well but stays moist. It can cope with drought, but does best with moderate watering. Missouri Botanical Garden lists it for USDA zones 11–12. This plant is tender, and frost harms it. It needs a moderate level of care. Keep a close watch on its spread by seed. It seeds itself in large amounts and can form dense stands. In many places, it acts as an invasive plant. These stands can crowd out native growth and take over a site.

Serious pest and disease problems are not usual. Still, some pests and diseases can harm this vine. Watch for aphids and whiteflies, plus spider mites and thrips. It may get powdery mildew or rots. Early blight and late blight may affect it, too. Damping off and some virus diseases can also occur. Its stems, leaves, and fruit are poisonous when eaten. Do not grow its showy fruit as a food crop.