Flower profile
American black nightshade
Solanum americanum
American black nightshade is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Louisiana it's most often seen in bloom in January–October.
*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.
- 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
- In Louisiana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–October. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 373 research-grade sightings of it in Louisiana, ranking #100 among the 109 flowers on our Louisiana list. iNaturalist
American black nightshade gift ideas
Handmade american black nightshade gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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American black nightshade art print
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American black nightshade greeting card
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American black nightshade mug
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American black nightshade earrings
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American black nightshade embroidery pattern
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American black nightshade sticker
When does it bloom?
In Louisiana, most flowering sightings come in January–October.
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?
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
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.
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.
More Louisiana flowers
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.