Solanum Species, Bugweed, Ear-Leaf Nightshade, Tree Tobacco, Wild Tobacco Bush

A very exotic and alien looking with those elephant ears-like leaves. It has a round, spreading shape. Unusual tree. It's a weed here in ...Read MoreSydney. I snatched off a 60cm tall seedling at some parkland in my area and planted it in my backyard. The process was successful and the seedling has been growing ever since.

Solanum mauritianum is an exotic shrub/tree commonly known in New Zealand as Woolly Nightshade, and is classified as a national surveilla...Read Morence plant pest. Woolly Nightshade is extremely invasive out-competing surrounding flora due to its fast growth and large annual seed mass. It is a native of South America, including Northern Argentina, Southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It has become a widespread invasive weed in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Hawaii’s, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Reunion Island, Mauritius, Madagascar, Australia, India and several southern African countries.
Woolly Nightshade is poisonous - to humans and to many organisms - and handling of the plant can cause irritation and nausea. The dust from the plant can cause respiratory problems if exposure to the plant is prolonged. Because of its ability to affect human health, and of its aggressive fast growing character, it is illegal in some areas of New Zealand to sell, propagate, or distribute any part of the plant. The plant has a life of up to thirty years, and can grow up to 10 m tall. Its grey-green leaves are covered with felt-like hairs, and its purple flowers with yellow centers can bloom all year round. Fruiting occurs in late spring to early summer. It is tolerant of many soil types, and quickly becomes established around plantations, forest margins, scrub and open land.

I use this plant to feed my Earthworms, l run a Earthworm/Recycling business and am having fantastic results from my earthworms processin...Read Moreg the leaves of this plant. The ph of the liquid fertilizer is 3 times stronger than when feeding them vegetable waste.

Lynne