Sunberry
Solanum retroflexum
Family: Solanaceae
What it is like
Solanum retroflexum is a ANNUAL. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0
Where it is found
Not known
A hybrid of garden origin, possibly S. guineense x S. villosum
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Fruit - raw or cooked. Not very appetizing raw, the flavour is improved by cooking. We found the fruit to be much nicer than the rather similar S. nigrum guineense. Although smaller, it has a sweeter flavour. Still not one of the most appetizing fruits to eat, though. The fruit is about 1cm in diameter and is produced in small bunches.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils. Prefers a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position. Often confused with the garden huckleberry, S. guineense, this species has smaller deep blue fruits. Occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit, there are some named forms.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Annual
Hardiness:
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where many if not all the members have poisonous leaves and sometimes also the unripe fruits.