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| Category: Vine |
| Family: Solanaceae (Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers) |
| Origin: Costa Rica (North America) |
| Flower Color: Blue |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Fall |
| Height: Climbing (Vine) |
| Width: 10-15 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Solanum wendlandii (Costa Rican Nightshade) - A semi-evergreen large vigorous vine from tropical central America that can grow to 10 to 15 feet tall and wide. It has large 4 to 8 inch long ovate thick leaves, often with hooked thorns along the midrib on the leaf underside and large terminal panicles of 1 1/2 to 2 inch wide deep purple flowers that fade to lavender, then white over their long blooming period. Flowers abundantly during warm months of the year from spring into fall with enough heat but sometimes has a scattered bloom even in later winter in mild years . Plant in full to partial sun with average to abundant water. Stays evergreen in warm tropical gardens but is deciduous for most California gardeners where can be hardy to 20° F or a bit lower. A good plant in the garden but also grows well and blooms early in containers. This plant comes from Southern Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatamala and northwestern South America. The name for the genus comes from the Latin name used by Pliny for a nightshade. The specific epithet honors Dr. Dr. Hermann Wendland (1825-1903), the director of the Royal Gardens at Herrenhausen, Hannover who first sent the original plants to Kew where it was described by Joseph Hooker in 1887. It is also commonly called Giant Potato Creeper, Giant Potato Vine, Blue Potato vine, Giant Potato creeper, Paradise flower and Divorce Vine, this last name possibly because of the thorns on the leaves.
This information about Solanum wendlandii displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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