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, except as noted.

crispum ‘Glasnevin’. Chile. A “relaxed tall shrub” useful either free-standing or spilling over a fence or wall. Though of moderate growth, it should reach 10-15' in height. It has bright green stems and 4" lance shaped, shiny leaves. This selection is essentially everblooming, with pendant clusters of lavender blue, yellow-centered blossoms developing in each leaf axil as growth proceeds. A fine plant for fences, arbors and trellises.

jasminoides. Potato vine. Brazil. A dense, fast-growing vine with narrow, purple tinged leaves and a nearly continual abundance of 1" white, star shaped blossoms borne in pendant clusters. The selection ‘Variegatum’ is identical to the typical form except for brightly yellow-variegated leaves. A good cover for fences and arbors.

sp. unidentified. Southern Mexico. A friend recently identified this beautiful climbing nightshade as S. macranthum (or perhaps S. macranthemum, which may be a separate species). However, further research brings us back to “just don’t know”. It was brought to us from Jalisco, Mexico by our own Narcizo Dueñas. It has lush, dark, tapered leaves up to 4" long. Like S. jasminoides, it seems to be nearly everblooming, with large pendant clusters of waxy purple 3/4" flowers with prominent yellow centers. A surprising bonus is its sweet fragrance, something like that of heliotrope. It has taken bouts of 25^o thus far, and may be still hardier. However, it would be wise to protect it from hard frosts.