Solanum umbelliferum

Plant type

shrub

size

H: 1'-3'
W: 1'-3'

planting zones

10a-12

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Solanum umbelliferum plant details

Solanum umbelliferum is a broadleaf semi-evergreen shrub with blue and green foliage. In spring and summer purple flowers emerge followed by red fruit. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and occasional water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in clay, rocky and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Solanum umbelliferum

Plant type: shrub
Plant family: solanaceae
Foliage: semi-evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 1 FT - 3 FT - wide, 1 FT - 3 FT - tall
Flowers: purple blooms in spring and summer
Uses: mounding, potentially invasive, toxic, winter interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Solanum umbelliferum

USDA Zones: 10a - 12
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: occasional
Resistant to: deer
Soil needs: clay, rocky and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

An herbaceous perennial to sub-shrub that grows up to 3 feet tall. The 1" bright blue flowers, with yellow centers and blooms most of the year and followed by black berries (don't eat the berries!). It is a tough shrub which can grow in rocky and clay soils. Flowers from Feb to October. Native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Provides pollen for bees. Costanoans used fruits for food. Found in scrubland and chaparral, dry valleys and slopes. Communitites located in Chaparral, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Northern Coastal Scrub, Foothill Woodland, Valley Grassland, Coastal Sage Scrub Between 0 and 5249 feet.

By: The Watershed Nursery

Bewitching, 1" pollinator attracting purple blooms with showy yellow anthers completely cover this cutie California native almost year round with the biggest bloomfest happening Spring through Summer. Downy, grey-green foliage is pretty in its own right, growing to a 1-3' rounded, branching mound. Super tough, CLAY & rocky soil pose no problem and it's ultra DROUGHT TOLERANT, too! Found hanging out in chaparral & oak woodlands in Central CA & coastal scrub areas, occasional Summer water is all it needs. All parts of the plant are POISONOUS which means deer don't like it & you shouldn't be nibbling on it either.