Flower profile
Eastern black nightshade
Solanum emulans
Eastern black nightshade (Solanum emulans) is a flowering plant in the Solanaceae family, blooming mostly July–October across the U.S.
Eastern black nightshade is a flowering plant.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Nebraska
Quick look
Solanum emulans, commonly known as eastern black nightshade, is a species of flowering plant in the family Solanaceae. It is native to all Canadian provinces and nearly all of the United States, and it has been introduced to scattered locales in Europe. There have been considerable taxonomic difficulties associated with this widespread taxon and its relatives Solanum americanum, S. nigrum, and S.
- It belongs to the Solanaceae family. iNaturalist
- NatureServe lists it as native to Nebraska. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 161 research-grade sightings of it in Nebraska, ranking #97 among the 147 flowers on our Nebraska list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
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
- Nebraska
- Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: WY (S2). (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?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant)) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
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 has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.
Names, range and relatives
Other Solanum on Bloomipedia (6): Carolina horsenettle, Bittersweet nightshade, Silverleaf nightshade, Buffalo-bur, Western horsenettle, American black nightshade.
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 Nebraska flowers
Sources
- USDA PLANTS: no profile matched this name.
- iNaturalist, Solanum emulans: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Solanum emulans (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Nebraska: Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004).
- Nebraska: Nebraska noxious weeds (25 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 10, § 001.02).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Solanum emulans (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Darius Regnier via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.