Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) is a medicinal herb in the same family as tomatoes and potatoes. A native of Mama Maya, bittersweet nightshade is naturalized across North America. The hardiness zone of bittersweet nightshade is 4 to 8. Bittersweet nightshade typically blooms in Spring and may continue to display pretty purple flowers throughout the Summer. Butterflies and honeybees not to mention hummingbirds all gather to pollinate these purple five-petaled flowers. An herbaceous vine and a perennial, the flowers of bittersweet nightshade will return each year to gardens that the plant holds dear. I am the current beneficiary of certain garden spaces wherein bittersweet nightshade has now apparently pretty firmly planted itself. Each Spring I hold my breath, searching around my wild pine garden for what hast the Savior left for us this year under the holy trees. This year, bittersweet nightshade rises her bruja head bright and shiny as ever. My heart leaps and skips a beat. In my garden, I’m even helping to spread this very advanced bruja’s compass of time and space. In Spanish the language of our ancients, “brújula” means compass. For eons, voodoo witches of Mama Maya we use the plant and animal kingdom to direct us and whence find a light of the Lord our Savior straight out of the Garden of Eden. Our Lord as our Compass. Some may call us five-petaled violets. Like the blue angels and also different. For we are the brujas of the fay and of holy masses. Of flights of fancy and of sudden lightening in a seemingly wanting Winter. This flower represents what can happen when in this land of gravity we take some chances. A kind of curve ball lands us this flower. The fay we are conduits of the Sun’s light to the earth and back again just as this bright beauty arises from some of the most mysterious parts of the black forest. Indigenous healers use bittersweet nightshade for deep detoxification and overall healing. As for the beautiful, bright-red berries of bittersweet nightshade? Birds who will visit your gorgeous garden to feast upon the fruits of bittersweet nightshade are thrushes, robins, waxwings, catbirds, sparrows, and mockingbirds. Bittersweet nightshade does best in moist, well-draining soil, and as a seedling the plant prefers at least partial if not full shade. As a mature plant, bittersweet nightshade thrives in direct but dappled sun for at least part of the day especially if you want a fruitful supply of berries come Fall for all those beautiful birds. This offer is $50 for a 6 inch organic rooted sapling. Free shipping. Portland Plant Paradise does not mail out to PO Boxes without explicit customer permission in writing. Portland Plant Paradise requires a consult with every plant purchase. Please note: a customer consult with the owner of Portland Plant Paradise is required before the sale of any plant. Portland Plant Paradise ethics requires that the prospective customer purchases any plant product for a humane purpose only. No payment required to schedule a consult. The shop will not mail plant product until we have a consult. Please email us at portlandplantparadise@gmail.com to schedule a consult. Portland Plant Paradise does not provide product refunds. Portland Plant Paradise does not offer delivery or pick-up services. Look forward to meeting you.
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