Purple Nightshade
Solanum xanti
Purple Nightshade or San Diego Nightshade is a semi-evergreen perennial vine in the Solanaceae family. Originally native to California, it can now be found in most of North America. It is found in the Bay Area and the Sierras, but its primary distribution is in the southern California coast and mountains from San Luis Obispo County southward up to 4,000 feet elevation.
It grows in shrublands, oak/pine woodlands, deciduous and coniferous forests in sandy, rocky or clay soils. It is found in areas that receive 10-20" of rainfall annually and prefers partial sun. It ranges from two to four feet in height, and two to four feet in width.
Purple Nightshade has been observed 'climbing' higher on fences, shrubs and saplings, sometimes 'choking' or blocking sunlight thereby killing off the host plant. Purple Nightshade flowers are a blue purple and approximately an inch wide, and foliage is dark green. It blooms in spring to early summer.
The plant is poisonous to humans and some other animals, especially the fruits. Be cautious in using it where children or pets may have access. Due to the poisonous nature of many nightshades, tomatoes (also a member of the Solanaceae) were thought to be equally toxic by many North Americans as late as the early eighteenth century.
Calscape
https://calscape.org/loc-/Solanum-xanti-(Purple-Nightshade)
