Weed Identification: Silver-Leaf Nightshade

Silver-Leaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) is a perennial plant usually growing 8” to 20” tall. It is easily recognized by its silver green wavy leaves and stem color,

often thorny stems,

and violet colored, star shaped flowers with protruding yellow stamens.

Other common names for Silver-Leaf Nightshade are Prairie Berry, Silver-Leaf Nettle, and Satan’s Bush. Silver-Leaf Nightshade flowers from late spring into fall and is native to the Southwestern United States and into Mexico. It is considered a noxious weed in many states. Silver-Leaf Nightshade is poisonous and toxic to livestock.

Silver-Leaf Nightshade propagates from both rhizomes and seed found in berries.

Green striped berries turn yellow or orange at maturity and then dry to brown.

Silver-Leaf Nightshade has an extensive root system

and can form colonies, which makes it difficult to eradicate.

If you have time and patience, Silver-Leaf Nightshade can be eradicated simply by digging it out, either by hand or shovel. Silver-Leaf Nightshade has no spines on its roots so can be hand (glove) pulled. Follow and expose the stem down to below soil level, where it turns white.

Grasp firmly,

and pull out the deep root.

Silver-Leaf Nightshade has a deep extensive root system, so digging it out will take multiple diggings as it regrows from broken rhizomes. Eventually the root system will become exhausted from multiple attempts to regrow and the plant will die. This method though tedious and time consuming uses no chemicals. The key to success with digging it out is to get it immediately after leaves emerge above ground so that plant cannot get new energy from photosynthesis.

Contact Trees That Please Nursery for more information.

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Mulberry Tree

The Mulberry tree ( Morus alba ) is also known as white mulberry. Mulberry trees are fast growing, deciduous trees that are native to China. Mulberry trees can reach 25’-30’ tall and 35’-40’ wide, or larger. Fruitless mulberry or male trees are generally considered more desirable than the female or fruit bearing trees. However, fruitless mulberry trees are prolific pollen producers and are banned in some communities because of allergen potential. Mulberries can grow 4’-6’ per year producing a tree canopy that is more wide than tall. Where water is not limiting, mulberries make great shade trees producing a deep, dark, shade canopy. Leaves are large and sometimes variable in shape. A few strategically planted mulberries can shade an entire yard. The female mulberry tree produces abundant sweet fruit that resemble blackberries. Female trees are very messy because of fruit drop so plant them away from sidewalks, driveways, and the house. Mulbe

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