Nightshades are plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), especially those in the genus Solanum or those with similar-looking flowers. This page discusses plants in the Solanoideae subfamily of the nightshade family. See the Tobacco page for information on plants in a different subfamily.

Most nightshades are poisonous if eaten. However, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and ground-cherries are all nightshades that have some edible parts.

Two nightshade species in the Solanum genus are native to Woodland, and two others are native to other parts of Yolo County. One invasive weed species in the same subfamily is known to infest the Woodland area.

Native Plants

Blue Witch Nightshade (Solanum umbelliferum) in a garden in Woodland. Photo by queerbychoice.

American Black Nightshade (Solanum americanum), alternatively known as White Nightshade, is a three- to four-foot-tall herbaceous annual or short-lived perennial that is native to all of Woodland and all the low-lying flatlands of Yolo County. An occasional volunteer in Woodland gardens, it produces white flowers and black fruit. It prefers full sun and significant moisture. It is commonly eaten or used medicinally in may countries, particularly in Africa and in various Pacific Islands, including among Indigenous Hawaiians.

Parish's Purple Nightshade (Solanum parishii) is a shrub that is native to the western two thirds of Woodland and the far western edge of Davis, as well as to the Dunnigan Hills, the Capay Hills, the Yolo County foothills, and the flatlands west of Woodland and Davis. It grows a little over three feet tall and up to five feet wide. It prefers full sun or partial shade and needs very little water. All parts of this plant, but especially the fruits, are poisonous to humans and to some other animals.

Chaparral Purple Nightshade (Solanum xanti) in a garden in Woodland. Photo by queerbychoice.Blue Witch Nightshade (Solanum umbelliferum) is a shrub (occasionally slightly vining) that is native to the Dunnigan Hills, the Capay Hills, the Yolo County foothills, and some flatlands west of Woodland, including Esparto, Madison, and Monument Hills. It grows up to three feet tall and three feet wide but often stays less than half that size. It prefers full sun or partial shade and needs very little water. It goes summer-deciduous under drought stress but doesn't need much water to keep its leaves. All parts of this plant, but especially the fruits, are poisonous to humans and to some other animals.

Chaparral Purple Nightshade (Solanum xanti) is a semi-evergreen small vine or prostrate shrub that is native to the Yolo County foothills, including the the Capay Hills. It grows two to four feet long but does not achieve height without a support to climb up. All parts of this plant, but especially the fruits, are poisonous to humans and to some other animals.

One other plants in another genus of the Solanoideae subfamily is native to Woodland, and one more is native to other parts of Yolo County.

Sacred Thorn-apple (Datura wrightii) in a garden in Woodland. Photo by queerbychoice.

Sacred Thorn-Apple (Datura wrightii) is a five-foot-tall and at least equally wide perennial herb that is native to all of Woodland, often growing in dry, disturbed soil. From April to October each year, it produces luminous eight-inch white flowers (often edged with pale purple) that open at sunset and wither soon after next sunrise. These flowers are followed by round, spiky seedpods (thorn-apples) containing numerous seeds that germinate readily. Then it dies to the ground every winter. This plant is sometimes used as a hallucinogen and is quite dangerous when used that way, particularly because it gives users the impression that they are unimpaired even when nothing they see is actually real. Users are at high risk of being hit by cars due to suffering transitory blindness while under the belief that they still have normal vision.

Sharpleaf Ground-Cherry (Physalis acutifolia) is a three-foot-tall annual herb that is native along the I-5 corridor at the far north end of Yolo County, and also in Davis. It often grows in disturbed soil. Its fully ripe fruits (ground-cherries) are edible raw or cooked.

Invasive Weed

Lily-of-the-Valley Vine (Salpichroa origanifolia) is a vining perennial invasive weed from South America. It grows about 7 to 10 feet long and spreads by seeds, root fragments and pieces of underground stems, particularly via dumped garden waste. Animals, wind, water and human activities can also spread seeds.