Solanum crispum

Solanum crispum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Solanaceae
Genus:	Solanum
Species:	S. crispum
Binomial name
Solanum crispum Ruiz & Pav.
Synonyms[1]
List Witheringia crispa (Ruiz & Pav.) J.Rémy Solanum angustifolium var. brevifolium Dunal Solanum berteroanum (J.Rémy) Phil. Solanum concavum Lindl. Solanum congestiflorum Dunal Solanum congestiflorum var. longifolium Dunal Solanum congestiflorum var. pannosum (Phil.) Reiche Solanum congestiflorum var. syringifolium (Kunth & C.D.Bouché) Reiche Solanum crispum var. eleagnifolium Dunal Solanum crispum var. ligustrinum (G.Lodd.) Dunal Solanum floribundum Dunal Solanum gayanum (J.Rémy) F.Phil. Solanum izquierdoi Phil. Solanum laetum Kunze Solanum landbeckii Phil. Solanum ligustrinum G.Lodd. Solanum pannosum Phil. Solanum pugae Phil. Solanum pyrrhocarpum Phil. Solanum sadae Phil. Solanum syringifolium Kunth & C.D.Bouché Solanum tagua Kuntze Solanum tomatillo (Remy) F.Phil. Witheringia berteroana J.Rémy Witheringia gayana J.Rémy Witheringia tomatillo J.Rémy

Solanum crispum is a species of flowering plant in the family Solanaceae.[1][2] It is native to Chile and Peru. Common names include Chilean potato vine, Chilean nightshade, Chilean potato tree and potato vine. Growing to 6 m (20 ft) tall, it is a semi-evergreen, woody-stemmed climbing plant. The small blue fragrant flowers, 2.5 cm in diameter, with prominent yellow ovaries, appear in clusters in summer. They resemble those of the closely related potato. Very small poisonous berries are produced in autumn. The berries start out green, then yellow-orange, and finally purple. The leaves are oval.

The specific epithet crispum means "closely curled".[3]

Cultivation

Solanum crispum is grown as a garden plant. The free-flowering cultivar 'Glasnevin' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4][5]

The plant is fast-growing with a long flowering period, typically from midsummer till autumn (fall). It grows well in neutral or slightly alkaline soils that are moist and well drained. Requiring some protection from frost, planting it against a south- or west-facing fence or wall in full sun is recommended.[6]

There is a white form known as 'Album'.

References

1. "Solanum crispum Ruiz & Pav". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
2. "Solanum crispum Ruiz & Pav". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
3. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
4. "Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
5. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 98. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
6. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.

External links

• Photographs: growing against a wall in a garden in the Ards Peninsula, Co Down. Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
• BBC Gardening, from the BBC
• blue potato vine; aka, Climbing Chilean potato tree
• Berries portrait of Solanum crispum glasnerium blue potato vine (this website may underestimate the toxicity of deadly nightshade)