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Solanum viarum Dunal
Tropical Soda Apple
Not native to Florida
This plant is an invasive exotic that is altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives.
This species should never be planted (many with this designation are prohibited by law), and generally should be removed whenever possible.
Native to Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina, this problem invasive has now spread accross much of Florida. It is also now found throughout the southeastern United States plus Pennsylvania and was placed on the Federal Noxious Weed List in 1995.
In Florida it is usually found in disturbed sites - along roadsides and in ditches, citrus groves and other farmland. Tropical Soda Apple is very prolific and has a high germination rate. Cattle and wildlife such as raccoons, deer and feral pigs spread the seed by eating the fruit.
Solanum viarum is a member of the Solanaceae - Potato family.
Other species of the Solanum genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Solanum americanum - AMERICAN BLACK NIGHTSHADE
Solanum bahamense - BAHAMA NIGHTSHADE
Solanum capsicoides - SODA APPLE
Solanum carolinense var. carolinense - CAROLINA HORSENETTLE
Solanum chenopodioides - BLACK NIGHTSHADE
Solanum dulcamara - CLIMBING NIGHTSHADE
Solanum sisymbriifolium - STICKY NIGHTSHADE
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Dec 08, 2023
