Horsenettle – Solanum carolinense
Print
EmailSolanum carolinense L.
Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
MI Status
Non-native
Life cycle
Spreading to erect, patch-forming perennial.
Leaves
Alternate, egg-shaped, shallowly to deeply lobed, 2 to 5 inches long with sharp, prominent prickles on the leaf veins, midveins and petioles. Star-shaped hairs are present on both leaf surfaces.
Stems
Spreading to erect, herbaceous stems with multiple branching, up to 3 feet in height. Stemshave sharp, prominent prickles and star-shaped hairs.
Flowers and fruit
Flowers are white to pale purple, star-shaped with five petals fused at the base and found in clusters on prickly flowering stalks. Flower centers consist of bright yellow, cone-shaped anthers. Berries are yellow at maturity, globe-shaped, wrinkled and approximately 0.5 inch across, and contain up to 170 seeds.
Reproduction
Seeds and deeply penetrating vertical to horizontal creeping roots.
Toxicity
All plant parts are toxic to animals.
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
Introduction to Bulletins Live! Two
Published on March 26, 2025
-
Endangered Species Act Changes
Published on May 20, 2024
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.