Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | Yellow | ||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1CBotanical details
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright, Bushy
- Genus
Solanum can be annuals, perennials, evergreen or deciduous shrubs or twining climbers, with simple or pinnnately lobed leaves and star- or bowl-shaped, 5-lobed flowers with prominent stamens, followed by fleshy fruits
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Plant outdoors or in containers when the danger of frost has passed in fertile, moist but well-drained soil, in full sun. Prefers not to be pinched out. Remove growing tip only if the plant grows to become larger than desired.
Propagation
Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Conservatory and greenhouse
- Edible fruit
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to red spider mite, tomato hornworms
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), tomato blight, tomato leaf mould, tomato leaf or stem problems
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.