Carolina Horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
Also listed as Solanum floridanum, Solanum godfreyi
Also known as Horsenettle, Bull Nettle, Carolina Nightshade
Climate Match for your location
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Carolina horsenettle is a prickly perennial weed with purple or white flowers and yellow berries, common in disturbed areas and pastures. It spreads via rhizomes and seeds and is considered invasive in many regions.
Why grow it
Carolina horsenettle has limited ornamental or productive value compared to cultivated alternatives. Its primary relevance in permaculture is as a case study in ecological disturbance and soil indicator, marking areas of compaction or nutrient imbalance where it tends to establish. Understanding its biology helps contextualize broader soil management strategies rather than providing direct cultivation benefits.
Watch out for
Carolina horsenettle thrives in disturbed soil and compacted areas, so prevention through good pasture management and ground cover is more effective than removal once established. The plant's deep rhizome system makes manual pulling ineffective; repeated mowing or targeted herbicide application over multiple seasons is typically necessary for control. Livestock may avoid the prickly stems, but young growth can be palatable, so grazing management should account for selective consumption patterns.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Solanaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Southeastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Carolina horsenettle is a prickly perennial weed with purple or white flowers and yellow berries, common in disturbed areas and pastures. It spreads via rhizomes and seeds and is considered invasive in many regions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Carolina Horsenettle grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Carolina horsenettle has limited ornamental or productive value compared to cultivated alternatives. Its primary relevance in permaculture is as a case study in ecological disturbance and soil indicator, marking areas of compaction or nutrient imbalance where it tends to establish. Understanding its biology helps contextualize broader soil management strategies rather than providing direct cultivation benefits.
Watch out for
Carolina horsenettle thrives in disturbed soil and compacted areas, so prevention through good pasture management and ground cover is more effective than removal once established. The plant's deep rhizome system makes manual pulling ineffective; repeated mowing or targeted herbicide application over multiple seasons is typically necessary for control. Livestock may avoid the prickly stems, but young growth can be palatable, so grazing management should account for selective consumption patterns.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Solanaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Southeastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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