Silverleaf Nightshade
Solanum elaeagnifolium
Washington State Classification
Class A — Eradication Required Statewide
Silverleaf nightshade lowers crop yield through competition.
Quick Reference
Identification
Growth Habit
A member of the tomato family, silverleaf nightshade is a branched and deep rooted perennial herb that grows 1 to 4 feet in height with purplish-blue flowers.
Leaves
Leaves are lance-shaped, 1 to 4 inches long by 1 inch wide and have wavy margins. Short silvery-white hairs give the plant a dusky or silvery-gray color.
Flowers
Flowers are blue, violet or, rarely white. There are 5 fused petals, ¾ inch across and flowers have bright yellow stamens.
Fruit & Seeds
Rounded berry that grows to around 0.4 inch in diameter, with sparse stellate (star-shaped) hairs.
Impact
Silverleaf nightshade lowers crop yield through competition. The species is also toxic to livestock. It contains toxic alkaloids that combine with sugars to produce glycoalkaloids which irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
Ecology & Spread
Habitat
Silverleaf nightshade is adapted to semi-arid regions. It will grow in pastures, cultivated fields and roadsides. Please click here to see a county level distribution map of silverleaf nightshade in Washington.
Spread Mechanisms
Reproduction
Silverleaf nightshade reproduces by seed, rhizomes and root fragments.
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Control Methods
Mechanical
- Hand-pull or dig plants, being careful to get all of the rootstock and dispose of the plants properly in the trash. Plants can re-grow after being clipped or mowed.