Chamaesaracha Species, Green False-Nightshade, Greenleaf Five Eyes

Also called "hairy five eyes". I'm not sure where the note about invasive or noxious is coming from, either. It's well adapted in the are...Read Moreas where it is native, but to my knowledge, it's not really something that spreads, and it's not on any of the USDA lists. With dirt-colored leaves and leaf-colored flowers, it's not very obvious, but it's a nice little surprise when you happen to notice a patch. Good forage for deer.

This plant is a U.S. native and grows "wild" in TX, UT, MN, CA, AZ, CO, and OK.

I have not grown this plant.

This is a wildflower which is known in Texas as "greenleaf five eyes". It is also known as g...Read Moreround saracha and prostrate ground cherry (however, it is not a member of Physalis). It is classified as a subshrub. The plant grows in a variety of soils including sandy, loamy and heavy clay. The 1.5 to 12 inches long stems are prostrate to ascending. The simple, alternate, broadly lanceolate to rhombic leaves are 1 to 2.5 inches long and .2 to .8 inches wide. They are covered with a grayish pubescence and gradually taper to a narrow base. The leaf margins can be entire or cleft into narrow lobes.

The five lobed flowers which emerge singularly or in pairs from the leaf axils are hermaphrodite. The whitish to greenish-white corolla is about .5 inch across and has a .75 to 1 inch long pedicel . The lobes show a somewhat darker colored star design that radiates outward from the center and can be seen on the back of the lobes. It has five stamen and one pistil.

I could not locate much information on this plant. I found it while walking my dogs through a park dedicated to preserving native plants in San Antonio. Texas. It is listed as invasive, but there were only 3 plants at the location at which I observed them.