Solanum laciniatum

Solanum laciniatum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.8 m (6ft). 
It is hardy to zone (UK) 9 and is frost tender.
It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Jul to October, and the seeds ripen from Aug to October.
The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil.
Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It cannot grow in the shade.
It prefers moist soil.


Fruit - raw or cooked.
It must be thoroughly ripe because the unripe fruit is poisonous.
It can be used as a sweet fruit or as a vegetable.
Best harvested once it has fallen from the plant, the fruit will then have lost its unpleasant acidity.
It tastes much worse than it looks, the fruit is sickly sweet and often bitter.
The quality varies from plant to plant and even from year to year from the same plant.
The fruit is up to 2cm long and contains a large number of flat seeds.