Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) is in the nightshade family family (Solanaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,836 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Silverleaf Nightshade: observations by month (U.S.)
About Silverleaf Nightshade
Solanum elaeagnifolium, the silverleaf nightshade or silver-leaved nightshade, is a common weed of western North America and also found in South America. Other common names include prairie berry, silverleaf nettle, white horsenettle or silver nightshade. In South Africa it is known as silver-leaf bitter-apple or satansbos ("Satan's bush" in Afrikaans). More ambiguous names include "bull-nettle", "horsenettle" and the Spanish "trompillo". The plant is also endemic to the Middle East.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Silverleaf Nightshade by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,636 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Arizona | 387 | August | Aug–Aug |
| California | 375 | June | May–Sep |
| New Mexico | 245 | August | May–Sep |
| Nevada | 76 | September | May–Sep |
| Utah | 54 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 43 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Arkansas | 5 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Kansas | 5 | June | Jun–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (nightshade family)
Carolina horsenettle
Sacred Datura
Bittersweet Nightshade
Purple Groundcherry
Tree Tobacco
Thickleaf Groundcherry
Desert Tobacco
Bluewitch Nightshade
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Silverleaf Nightshade?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to September.
Where is Silverleaf Nightshade most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Arizona, California.