Consulta Plantas

Care of the tree Solanum giganteum or Red bitter-berry

The genus Solanum, family Solanaceae, comprises 1,700 species distributed throughout the planet. Some species are: Solanum giganteum, Solanum wendlandii, Solanum rantonnetii, Solanum pseudocapsicum, Solanum capsicastrum, Solanum jasminoides, Solanum crispum, Solanum pyracanthum, Solanum melongena, Solanum mauritianum.

Common names: Healing-leaf tree, Giant bitter-apple, Red bitter-apple, Red bitter-berry. This species is native to South Africa.

They are small trees or evergreen shrubs that reach 6 meters (19.68 feet) in height. The large elliptical leaves (25 cm/9.84") are velvety, with an intense green color on the upper surface and greyish green on the underside. The branches have some thorns and white hairs. The flowers are blue-purple in color, appear in clusters and give off an aroma. They bloom from late spring to mid-fall. They produce berry-shaped fruits that are first green, then orange, and finally purplish-red.

Red bitter-apple is used to form bushy groups and as isolated specimens. It's ideal for Mediterranean coastal gardens. In South Africa it's used as a medicinal plant for wounds or throat ulcers.

Solanum giganteum needs full sun or semi-shade exposure. It does not resist temperatures below 5 ºC (41 ºF).

The soil should be well drained and contain some loamy sand.

Water moderately, waiting until the soil has dried; Healing-leaf tree is a quite resistant to drought plant.

Red bitter-apple does not need pruning or fertilizers.

Solanum giganteum is a quite resistant plant to the usual pests and diseases.

Giant bitter-apple is propagated from seeds sown in spring and by cuttings.

Images of the tree Solanum giganteum or Red bitter-berry