SOLANUM. Nightshade. Worldwide. An extremely large group including perennial herbs, shrubs and vines. The foliage is quite variable. Their five-petalled flowers, usually of purple to white, have a distinctive conical "beak" of crowded stamens. The berries which follow are often ornamental. The following selections will thrive in sun or light shade, in most soils, and with moderate to little watering when established. They should be hardy to 15^oF. or less.

umbelliferum var. incanum. In its typical form, the species is often a sprawling, rather shapeless shrub. The variety incanum tends to be more compact and mounding, with beautiful grey stems, contrasting blue green leaves and lavender flowers borne in small clusters. These give way to large, shiny green berries. My earlier selection, 'Juniper Canyon', has been replaced by one even bushier and more floriferous, dubbed 'Indians Grey', discovered recently in the Santa Lucia Mountains. 'Spring Frost' is a recent selection by Roger Raiche, similar in habit but featuring pure white flowers.

xantii 'Salmon Creek'. A many-stemmed, semishrubby perennial, in this selection about 2' tall and 3' broad. Both the stems and the 1" oval leaves are fuzzy and slightly greyish green overall. It is decorated much of the year by clusters of 1" purple, broad-petalled blossoms, which develop shiny green berries. The plant should be cut back hard occasionally for rejuvenation. Selected by Brett Hall of the U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum.