Solanum americanum, commonly known as American black nightshade, is an annual or perennial herb native to a wide range of habitats including open woodlands, forest edges, riparian areas, and disturbed sites in the tropics and subtropics of the Americas, as well as Melanesia, New Guinea, and Australia. It typically grows to a height of 3-5 feet and features ovate leaves with pointed tips. The plant produces clusters of small white to light purple flowers with prominent yellow stamens throughout the growing season, followed by spherical, black berries that are about 1 cm in diameter.

American black nightshade is often found in agricultural fields and gardens, where it can be considered a weed. However, it is also used in some traditional medicine systems and its leaves are sometimes consumed as a vegetable after proper preparation to reduce toxicity. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and grows well in a variety of soil types, provided they are well-drained. It is drought-tolerant once established and requires minimal care. Gardeners should be cautious, as all parts of the plant can be toxic if ingested in large quantities. It is potentially invasive outside its native range, and its rapid growth and seed production can displace native vegetation.CC BY-SA 4.0