This lovely plant has come up next to my shed & I'm not sure what it is. I do buy lots of seeds from Seed Savers Exchange & Baker Street Heirlooms that are not known to grow in Texas so it really could be anything!
ID Help!
I would say it looks like a Tomato seedling but the fruit is very very red.
Were they green at one point?
The stems where they attach to the fruit looks like Tomato as well. Cut one open and see if they look like a Tomato inside. The leaves are what throw me off.
I think it looks like a type Nightshade.
it looks like a cherry tomato to
me and tomatoes are in the
solanum/nightshade family...
No, it's not a tomato. I have the tiny, wild tomatoes but this one isn't one of them (in fact, if anyone wants to start some, just let me know). Also, the leaves are definitely not tomato-like, no fuzz at all.
Yes, they are green, then orange, then red. I bit one (yeah, kinda dumb, I know, but I spat it out) and it was slightly sweet with lots of small tomato/pepper shaped seeds and not much pulp. I'll research the nightshade idea. I'm always ordering something that sounds great at the time...
I don't see any images of Nightshade that look like it. The leaves are very similar but the fruit is not in clusters and the stems are not dark. On my plant, the fruit looks as an ornamental pepper would, with upright, but round, fruit. In fact, I thought it was some bizarre pepper I had ordered until I tasted it.
Tomato, a grape var. Have the list you ordered by any chance? Might help if you could locate it.
Weird.
I would like seeds, and pick em anyway, try posting on the plant I'd forum?
Can you pick one of the fruits and some of the leaves? Cut the fruit open and take a pic of it along with the leaves. Maybe that will help with ID.
Quote from stephanietx :
Can you pick one of the fruits and some of the leaves? Cut the fruit open and take a pic of it along with the leaves. Maybe that will help with ID.
Good idea!
The leaves look tomatoish, not like a Chilitepin. Tepins leaves are rounder. Just sold 40 of those and kept 10 for myself, so they are ingrained in my head at least for a while. lol
A picture of the blossom would help too. Or at least a discription such as color. Still could be an ornamental pepper, some of them dont have much flavor....
Voila-a photo of one of the fruits cut open, another photo of the leaves & one of the entire plant. It stands about 18-24 inches tall & about 36 inches wide. I moved the soccer goal out of the way this time! And, just to throw in some confusion, the last photo is of my wild tomatoes.
Cocoa_lulu- I just noticed this plant yesterday for the first time. It's over on the side of my studio that I let run wild,mostly. I know there was not one there last year though. The fruits are between 1/8-1/2" and the leaves are 1 1/2-2" long.
Kittriana- Do you bwant seeds from the mystery plant or the wild tomatoes? The little tomatoes are very prolific & tasty. It just takes A LOT of them to do anything with a recipe needing tomatoes. They are a perfect snack while gardening though!
I buy seeds from so many different places; internet & local shops, so I don't have a real list. About time I started one, I guess! I do make notes of where & when I plant but I didn't plant this one, purposefully anyway.
Oops, sorry 1lisac- It's too late for bloom photos at the moment. If there are more, I'll get a photo.
I know it looks like a tomato but the fruit is sweet-ish with a slightly bitter aftertaste. No heat to it whatsoever.
And those last two photos are sitting sideways. Not sure why they loaded like that.
Solanum pseudocapsicum http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54393/
So that's what mines going to look like when it grows up?grown I do believe you've got it! Becareful eating it as some of the plant parts are poisonous. It used to grown as a house plant during the Victorian era. I didn't realize it got that big.
Just recently there was an article on DG that mentioned it. Sweetmommy, do you happen to remember where you got the seeds? They aren't that easy to find, some people grow it for medicinal purposes.
Of the wild tomato- I prefer edible plants!!! And pls and thanx!!!
Yay, that is it! Thanks growin!!
1lisac-No, I don't remember but I'd be happy to send you some. (See note to kittriana below)
kittriana-How do I get your mailing address? I'm still learning my way around here.
No, Thank you tho. I have one, its not that big yet and some seeds that I cant find ATM. I was just wondering where you got your seeds because they arent that easy to find.
I am glad you posted this ID. Its very interesting.
D mail sent it will show up on your bar under the home sign!!
1lisac- Besides my local shops & nurseries, I buy online from Johnny's Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Street Heirlooms,Annie's Annuals, Etsy & Ebay. There is a seller on Etsy called Barefoot Shaman who usually has interesting seeds. In case you want to look around.
kittriana-I'll send some out tomorrow!
Thanks, just what I need another seed source. lol Ill have to find the seed packet that I have. I grew them for an order and the client supplied some of the seeds, this being one of them. When I find it I will post it. As I posted above they arent a seed that is found everywhere. The plant is mentioned in the book Wicked Plants. Evidently ALL parts of the plant are poisonous. Its compared to Deadly Nightshade.
I read everything I found about it now & cannot find one thing about it that would have lead me to order it's seeds. It seems like it will remain a mystery.
I was thinking maybe it was brought in by a bird but its not like its found everywhere. The seeds arent super easy to start either. But it is definitely a Nightshade. They dont grow really fast either, my guess is that its been there a while but it was too small and you didnt notice it. I have to look for and find my seed packet, the person I was growing them for want them as an herbal remedy. Growing wise its basically like a growing a pepper. Im looking for that seed packet, now!
If it has remedial qualities, I might have ordered it! What is it good for?
I dont know what remedial qualities it has. The seeds (which I received from my client) came from Horizon Herbs. When I saw it was poisonous, I didnt look any further. I just grow them. : )
Why do have to order seeds when you already have the plant? lol
Ha,true! I'll look them up.Thanks!