Black nightshade
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
⚠️ Possible toxicity
⚠️ Look-alike species
The small black berries of black nightshade look like unripe cherry tomatoes, but the whole plant is toxic — unlike the tomato or the potato, its cultivated cousins. A simple check: if the "mini tomatoes" are the size of a small pea, grow in small loose clusters and stay black even when ripe, it is not a tomato.
The small white star-shaped flowers with a heart of yellow stamens and the clusters of black berries look alike on this ornamental climber and on black nightshade, a wild weed. The habit is clearly different: jasmine nightshade climbs up a support for several metres, whereas black nightshade stays a small upright non-climbing plant. Both bear toxic berries: if in the slightest doubt, do not eat.
The small black berries of black nightshade look like unripe cherry tomatoes, but the whole plant is toxic — unlike the tomato or the potato, its cultivated cousins. A simple check to combine with others: if the "mini tomatoes" are the size of a small pea, grow in small loose clusters and stay black even when ripe, it is not a tomato; if in the slightest doubt, do not eat.
🌿 Other Solanaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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