Know your alien invasive plant: Potato creeper
Hillcrest Conservancy will produce weekly articles regarding the various alien invasive plant species in the Highway area to help the community identify and eliminate them.
PHOTO: www.luirig.altervista.org
THIS week, Hillcrest Conservancy takes a look at the Potato creeper as part of its series of articles on alien invasive plants to help the community to identify and eradicate them from their gardens.
The Potato creeper’s scientific name is Solanum seaforthianum but it is also known as the Brazilian nightshade, aartappelranker (Afrikaans) and ijalamu (isiZulu).
Description: It is a slender woody climber growing to about three metres high with bright green paper thin leaves which are deeply lobed into leaflets. Pretty purplish blue flowers with yellow stamens appear from December to March.
The small shiny green berries turn red as they ripen. Most parts of this plant are poisonous and caution should be taken with children who may find the fruit attractive and accidentally poison themselves.
Where does the species come from? It was imported from Tropical America.
What is its invasive status in South Africa? This is a Category 1b NEMBA plant.
Where is it a problem? Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo.
How is it spread? Through seed dispersal.
Why is it a problem? This plant will readily overtop indigenous plants smothering them.
Does the plant have any uses? Ornamental use and birds eat the berries.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
