Flower profile

American black nightshade

Solanum americanum

American black nightshade (Solanum americanum) is a low shrub in the Solanaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly January–May across the U.S.

Native to Louisiana

American black nightshade is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

16states where USDA records it

373LA sightings*

7,370U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Louisiana

Quick look

Solanum americanum, commonly known as American black nightshade, small-flowered nightshade or glossy nightshade, is a herbaceous flowering plant.
From Wikipedia's article Solanum americanum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Solanaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a annual, perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 16 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Louisiana. ^NatureServe
iNaturalist has 373 research-grade sightings of it in Louisiana, ranking #104 among the 154 flowers on our Louisiana list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Louisiana (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (44 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Louisiana: No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NV (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: high). Poisonous parts: flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap/juice. Symptoms they list: “Nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, respiratory depression; convulsions, hallucinations; may be fatal.” They also note: “The plant is toxic, particularly the leaves and berries.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Deadly Nightshade” (Solanum spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Hypersalivation, inappetence, severe gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, drowsiness, CNS depression, confusion, behavioral change, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart… ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records American black nightshade in 16 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Washington.

Louisiana counties with USDA records: Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Mary, Vernon, West Feliciana.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Hawaii: Probably native; Lower 48 states: Native; Navassa Island: Native; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Native; Puerto Rico: Native; U.S. Virgin Islands: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Solanum caribaeum, Solanum fistulosum, Solanum hermannii, Solanum linnaeanum, Solanum nodiflorum, Solanum sodomeum.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 250 counties across 18 states; the most are in Florida (58), California (39), Missouri (34).

Other Solanum on Bloomipedia (6): Carolina horsenettle, Bittersweet nightshade, Silverleaf nightshade, Buffalo-bur, Eastern black nightshade, Western horsenettle.

More from the Solanaceae family (15 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Sacred datura, Tree tobacco, Jimsonweed, Desert tobacco, Long-leaved groundcherry, Thickleaf groundcherry, Cutleaf groundcherry, Desert thorn-apple.

More Louisiana flowers

Carolina horsenettle

Solanum carolinense

Native

🌼 Blooms in LA: April–July

Cutleaf groundcherry

Physalis angulata

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in LA

White clover

Trifolium repens

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in LA: February–April

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SOAM.
iNaturalist, Solanum americanum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Solanum americanum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Solanum americanum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
Photo: Amber M. King via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.