Garden huckleberry, African nightshade
Solanum scabrum

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A bushy plant. It grows 60 cm high and spreads 45 cm wide. It grows each year from seed. The leaves are broadly oval. The flowers are small and white. The fruit are black berries. They are 18 mm wide. The fruit are purplish-black.

There are about 1400 Solanum species.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in warm humid forest. Seed germinate best at 15-30°C and growth is best between 20-30°C. It grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. It needs 500 mm rainfall. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, New Zealand, Nigeria, North America, Philippines, Reunion, Rwanda, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tibet, Togo, Uganda, USA, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The very ripe fruit can be eaten raw. They are also stewed and used in jams, jellies, sauces, pies and preserves. They are usually cooked in baking soda first to remove the bitterness, the prepared with sugar and lemon juice. The leaves are used as a potherb. They can also be dried and stored for use in soups.

It is a cultivated food plant. Fruit are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings. Seeds can be sown directly or put in a nursery and transplanted.

The leaves are highly perishable after harvest.

Its other names

Local names

Am b 'lito zeriga, Kinsumba

Synonyms

Solanum guineense (L.) Mill.; Solanum intrusum Soria; Solanum melanocerasum All.;