Known by many common names including thorn apple, bitter tomato, apple of Sodom, and bitterball, this tropical perennial is native to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle east, eastwards to India. It is a member of the nightshade family, Solanaceae, that also includes peppers, potatoes, and eggplant. Plants are erect or spreading, may be shrubs or small trees growing up to 6′ tall, occasionally more. They have pale yellow to brown, stout, recurved spines on the stem, branches, and sepals and velvet hairs on the leaves. The densely hairy, ovate leaves are .4-12″ long, have slightly wavy margins, and are gray-green on top with green-white below. Nodding or pendent flowers are borne from late fall into winter singly or in clusters in the leaf axils and have a fused yellow or white calyx and blue to purple bell- or wheel- shaped corolla surrounding 5 stamens. The 1′ wide flowers may be bisexual or functionally male, with the latter more numerous. The globose fruits are about .8″ across and are mottled or striped green, yellow, orange, or brown when ripe. They contain many lentil- to kidney-shaped pale yellow to brown seeds. Plants may become invasive. All parts of the plant are poisonous, but selected plants are used as food and medicinally for pain relief. The ancient Indians domesticated the plant into eggplant (Solanum melongena). The genus name, Solanum, is the classical Latin name for nightshade. The specific epithet, incanum, is the Latin word meaning hoary and refers to the white hairs on the plant, especially the leaves and stem.
Type: Tropical shrub pr small tree
Outstanding Feature: Fruit
Form: Spreading
Growth Rate: Rapid
Bloom: Solitary or clusters of blue to purple flowers in fall
Size: 6′ H
Light: Full sun
Soil: Prefers fertile, organic rich, moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil but tolerates drought, infertile soil, and saline soil.
Hardiness: Zones 10-12
Care: Control meassures may be necessary.
Pests and Diseases: Little is known about pests and diseases but the potential for harm from both is considered great.
Propagation: Seed
Photo Credit: James Steakley Wikipedia