Horse Nettle

Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

Horse Nettle (Carolina Nightshade)
Solanum carolinense [C-value 0]
Nightshade family (Solanaceae)
Blooms mid-June - September

Horse Nettle is native to the southern U.S. and is now very common in our area. It prefers full sun and moist to dry conditions. Habitats include prairies, openings and edges of woodlands, areas along roads, vacant lots and other waste areas. This perennial is up to 3' tall, branching occasionally. The stems have scattered white or yellow spines. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 3" across and rather angular along the margins with white hairs and scattered spines along the central vein on the underside of each leaf. The upper stems terminate in small clusters of star-shaped flowers, white or light violet, about ¾" across, and having 5 petals united at the base and 5 elongated yellow anthers in the center. Afterwards, green fruits develop that are about ½" across, later turning blue-black and then yellow, but are not edible to humans.

Horse Nettle along Minkler Road August 29, 2013

Horse Nettle at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve July 13, 2013

Horse Nettle (with immature fruits) at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve August 19, 2013

Horse Nettle (with maturing fruits) along Fox River September 17, 2014

Horse Nettle (with mature fruits) at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve October 29, 2014

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