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Solanum vestissimum

Solanum vestissimum is a subtropical semi-woody perennial shrub from the cloud forests of northwestern South America, grown mainly for its edible fruit and often found as a weed at medium altitudes. It prefers shade or semi-shade, similar to its relative the naranjilla.

Family
Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
Grows as
Shrub, Perennial
Light
Part shade
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist and never waterlogged; water more in dry weather.
Soil
Rich, well-drained loam or humus-rich potting mix.
Temperature
15–25 °C; protect below 5 °C.
How easy
Moderate
Safety
Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
Edible
Yes, some parts
Native range
Colombia to Venezuela and Ecuador

About

Solanum vestissimum is a subtropical perennial plant from northwestern South America. Also known within its native range as toronjo, tumo, or coquina melón, S. vestissimum is a large semi-woody plant or shrub, up to 8 meters in height, though usually much smaller. The very large heart-shaped leaves are lined with spines along the top and bottom of the dorsal vein, similar to the naranjilla or pseudolulo. The leaves and stems of the plant are otherwise covered in short, felt-like hairs.

Native to temperate, cloud forest zones of Colombia and Venezuela, the toronjo bears edible fruit, but is rarely cultivated. Instead, the plant proliferates as a weedy species at medium-altitude locations in its native countries. Like the naranjilla, the toronjo prefers shaded or semi-shaded growing environments.

Other Solanum plants

Dwarf Tamarillo · Solanum acaule · Sodaapple nightshade · Ethiopian nightshade · American black nightshade · Solanum arcanum · New Zealand nightshade · Solanum berthaultii · Tamarillo · Solanum brevicaule · Solanum cajanumense · Bitter Apple

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Solanum vestissimum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.

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