Bahama nightshade
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Solanum bahamense
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Solanaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also an accent shrub in coastal areas. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Grown by enthusiasts. Available in Key West at Key West Botanical Garden. |
Description: |
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Medium shrub with an erect stem. Branches and leaves sometimes spiny. Leaves slightly hairy beneath. |
Height: |
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About 4-6 feet in height. About as broad as tall. |
Growth Rate: |
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Moderate. |
Range: |
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Monroe County Keys north along the east coast to Martin County; West Indies. |
Habitats: |
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Coastal hammocks. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Light shade. |
Flower Color: |
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Purple petals with yellow anthers. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy, about 1/2" wide. |
Flowering Season: |
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All year. |
Fruit: |
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Bright red berry, produced in rows. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed. |
Comments: |
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Beryn Harty, 2015 Monroe County Keys, Florida, USA
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