Wild potato.

At a glance

Care level

Moderate

Plant type

Perennial rhizomatous herb

Light

Bright indirect light

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

3 feet

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 8 to 10

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root rot. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal overwatering or poor drainage. Provide plenty of fresh air circulation to keep the foliage healthy.

Watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Feeding

Use a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Trim back dead or yellowing stems to encourage fresh growth.

Repotting

Repot in the spring if the plant becomes root bound.

Soil

Well draining loamy soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.0

Temperature

0 to 25°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Safety

People

All parts of this plant contain glycoalkaloids that are toxic if ingested.

Pets

This plant contains solanine and is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Children

Keep this plant away from children as the berries and foliage are toxic if eaten.

Contact allergens

Handling the foliage may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to glandular hairs.

Airborne allergens

The pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in susceptible people.

Edibility

The tubers and foliage contain solanine and should not be consumed by humans or pets.

How to identify it

• Deeply pinnate dark green leaves
• Small star shaped purple flowers
• Spreads by rhizomes and does not form tubers
• Trailing or climbing growth habit

Height

0.3 to 0.6m

Spread

0.4 to 0.8m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

white, pale blue, 2 to 3cm

Fruit

green, brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• Aphids · Small insects that cluster on new growth and suck plant sap.
• Late Blight · A fungal infection that causes dark spots on leaves and stems in cool, damp weather.

Growing it

Propagation

seed, division

When to plant

spring

Plant near aromatic herbs to help mask the scent from potential pests.

Grows well with

• Marigold · Marigolds help deter soil nematodes that can affect nightshade family members.
• Nasturtium · Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for aphids that might otherwise target the plant.

Similar species

• Potato · They share the same genus and similar growth habits.

Science

Family

Solanaceae

Genus

Solanum

Order

Solanales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Central and southern Chile.

Conservation

It is considered a wild relative of the potato and is protected in some parts of its native range due to habitat loss.

It grows in cool, moist forest margins where it spreads via underground stolons.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees

Uses

botanical research, ornamental groundcover

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I eat the tubers?

No, this species does not form tubers, and all parts of the plant contain toxic compounds.

Is it easy to grow?

It is relatively easy if you provide well draining soil and moderate temperatures.

Where the name comes from

The name Solanum is the ancient Latin name for nightshade, while etuberosum highlights its lack of significant tubers.

Good to know

• It is a wild species from the Andes that does not produce edible tubers like the common potato.
• The specific epithet etuberosum means 'without tubers', because unlike the cultivated potato it does not form tubers.
• It is a close relative of the cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs