Is it safe to plant in a home garden?

It is generally discouraged because it spreads rapidly and is difficult to eradicate once established.

Does it need special soil?

It thrives in sandy or disturbed soils and is very adaptable to poor conditions.

Plant guide

Carolina horsenettle.

Solanum carolinense

Pronounced so-LAY-num ka-ro-lin-EN-see

Also known as Apple Of Sodom, Ball Nightshade, Ball-nettle, Bull Nettle, Carolina Horse-nettle, Carolina Horsenettle, Carolina nightshade, Devil's Tomato

The Carolina horsenettle is a hardy perennial member of the nightshade family. It is often found growing in fields and disturbed areas across much of North America. You will recognize it by its prickly stems and star shaped flowers.

Another photo of Carolina horsenettle — Photo by Randy A Nonenmacher (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 1 to 3 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 8
Bloom time: Late spring to early autumn

Care

This plant is quite tough and thrives in full sun with minimal intervention. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out completely during extreme heat. Be careful when handling it because of the sharp spines on the stems.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: A light application of balanced fertilizer during the growing season is sufficient.
Pruning: Trim back dead or damaged stems to keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Well draining sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.5
Temperature: -34 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%

Safety

People: The plant contains solanine and other alkaloids that cause severe gastrointestinal distress if eaten.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested due to the presence of solanine.
Children: Keep children away from this plant due to the presence of sharp spines and toxic berries that may look tempting.
Contact allergens: The stems and leaves are covered in sharp, prickly spines that can cause skin irritation.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant evidence of airborne pollen allergies associated with this species.
Edibility: All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested and should never be consumed.

How to identify it

Star shaped white or violet flowers
Yellow berries resembling small tomatoes
Prickly stems and leaf veins
Deeply lobed wavy leaves

Height: 0.3 to 1m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, pale violet, 2 to 4cm
Fruit: yellow, Autumn

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, division, root cuttings
When to plant: spring, autumn

Plant this species only in areas where you can control its spread, as it is highly invasive in garden beds.

Grows well with

Little Bluestem · This grass provides a structural contrast to the sprawling habit of the nightshade.
Butterfly Milkweed · Both plants thrive in similar dry, sunny conditions.

Similar species

Silverleaf Nightshade · It shares a similar growth habit and prickly stems but features silvery foliage.

Science

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Solanum
Order: Solanales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southeastern and central United States.
Conservation: This plant is considered a common agricultural weed and is not of conservation concern.

It is a pioneer species that quickly colonizes disturbed ground and abandoned fields.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: pollinator garden, native plant restoration

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it safe to plant in a home garden?: It is generally discouraged because it spreads rapidly and is difficult to eradicate once established.
Does it need special soil?: It thrives in sandy or disturbed soils and is very adaptable to poor conditions.

Where the name comes from

The specific epithet carolinense refers to the Carolinas where it was first described, while the genus Solanum is the Latin name for nightshade.

Good to know

It is a member of the nightshade family, related to tomatoes and potatoes.
The berries remain on the plant long after the leaves have dropped in autumn.
It is often called horse nettle despite not being a true nettle.
The flowers resemble those of a potato plant.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.