Bahama nightshade
Solanum bahamense
Solanaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also an accent shrub in coastal areas.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts. Available in Key West at Key West Botanical Garden.
Description:
Medium shrub with an erect stem. Branches and leaves sometimes spiny. Leaves slightly hairy beneath.
Height:
About 4-6 feet in height. About as broad as tall.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Monroe County Keys north along the east coast to Martin County; West Indies.
Habitats:
Coastal hammocks.
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Light shade.
Flower Color:
Purple petals with yellow anthers.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy, about 1/2" wide.
Flowering Season:
All year.
Fruit:
Bright red berry, produced in rows.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed.
Comments:


Beryn Harty, 2015
Monroe County Keys, Florida, USA
Roger L. Hammer
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton