The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

What is this plant?

Derbyshire, United Kingdom Gb

Help!! This plant has started growing in my garden and i dont remember planting it but the roots are in a degradeable pot, does anyone know what it is as i thought it was poisonous! Thanks in anticipation....



Plant

Answers

 

It is Solanum (Perennial Nightshade) The same family as the potato The white variety is a climber, and the crispum variety which is what you have is more of a shrub, which you can prune back in the Autumn to keep its shape and save from wind damage, The fruits are poisonous. But a very attractive shrub. Flowers middle June to Middle of August.
To give you an idea of the size it grows to, there is a photo of it on page six row 3 the last photo in the row with the conservatory in the background on my page in photos..

11 May, 2009

 

Thank you so much for your reply, it can now have a happy life in my border : ) could you tell me how big it will get in how many years as your plant looks massive!!

11 May, 2009

 

Chapman, if you have small children make sure they do not eat the fruits which look like wee tomatoes, they really are poisonous.

11 May, 2009

 

Its full name is Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin' and it must depend on where you are in the UK as to its flowering period, because mine has been flowering for several weeks and is in full bloom at the moment. It will keep on until late autumn, too.

It is trained against a west-facing wall, and although it isn't a climber, as Sbg said, it can grow very tall - mine is about 10' high and 8' wide. You can prune it back, of course, but I like mine covering the wall!

11 May, 2009

 

Lucky you finding one of these.
I love them and keep meaning to get myself one. :o)

11 May, 2009

 

You will see in the photo it is against a six ft fence and I trim it back to about five ft each Autumn and then it shoots up. If during the summer it gets a bit wayward I nip and tuck where needed. Cut out any overgrown thickness. I never seem to get any fruit on mine, had no problem with them laying about. I have had it about eight years, but it seems to have been that size for a long time. Dont think you will have to wait long for it to mature.

11 May, 2009

 

Sorry - a senior moment there, Telme! I don't know why I called you the wrong name... :-(

11 May, 2009

 

i dont mind spritz, and i dont have it but it is on my wish list. it would mask the garage nicely.

11 May, 2009

 

Ah, but what about Telme?? :-(

11 May, 2009

 

Ok Spitzhenry I will forgive you, I was thinking on my comment of never having any poisonous fruit on mine, it is probably because I prune off the branches overhanging after they flower, to keep it in controle , The poor thing does not have chance to have fruit!! That's what I meant by Nip and Tuck, then I give it the big prune in late Autumn.

12 May, 2009

 

Telme, I am just going to post a photo of mine! :-)

12 May, 2009

 

I think the berries are eaten by birds, the digestive system of which aids germination. Then it can arrive in a garden via a dropping.

13 May, 2009

How do I say thanks?

Answer question

 


Not found an answer?