Plant encyclopedia›bittersweet

bittersweet

Also known as: bitter nightshade; bluebird; climbing nightshade; fellen; fellonwood; fellonwort; felonwood; felonwort; mad dog's berry; mortal; poisonous nightshade; radical weed; scarlet berry; scarlet egg plant; violet bloom; woody nightshade

A deciduous woody, or herbaceous climber reaching 2.5m. It has tri-foliate leaves with one major central one and two small flanking leaflets. Purple flowers with yellow centres develop into green then red jewel-like berries, eaten by birds

Scientific classification

Species: bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara)
Genus: Solanum
Family: Solanaceae

Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Toxicity: Climber Wall Shrub · Herbaceous Perennial
Plant type: 1.5-2.5 metres
Height: 0.5-1 metres
Spread: Deciduous
Foliage: Climbing
Habit: Spring · Summer · Autumn
Season of interest: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

bittersweet pictures

Distribution of bittersweet

Distribution map

Plant distribution

Native
Introduced
Cultivated

Native83

Introduced54

Source：WCVP v16 · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · CC BY 3.0 · Boundaries：WGSRPD / TDWG

Culture

Information to be completed

Toxicity

Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling

Quick identification of bittersweet

Information to be completed

bittersweet care guide

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings
Watering: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

Watering

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings

Fertilizing

Balanced perennial feed every four weeks from spring through summer

Pruning

Little pruning is needed. Remove diseased, damaged, crowded or crossing shoots and unwanted growth. Timing depends on the plant: generally late winter or early spring; plants prone to bleeding and deciduous magnolias need different timing, and deciduous azaleas and lilacs are pruned after flowering.