Lycianthes rantonnetii

Lycianthes rantonnetii, the blue potato bush or Paraguay nightshade,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to South America.[2] Growing to about 6 ft (1.8 m) tall and broad,[1] it is a rounded evergreen shrub with a somewhat lax habit. A profusion of trumpet-shaped, bright blue-purple flowers with a prominent yellow eye appear in summer, followed by red berries. It is widely cultivated and may be hardy in mild or coastal areas. Alternatively it can be grown in a container and brought under cover in winter. It requires a sheltered location in full sun.[3] Though related to food plants like the potato and tomato, all parts of the plant are considered toxic to humans.

Lycianthes rantonnetii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Solanaceae
Genus:	Lycianthes
Species:	L. rantonnetii
Binomial name
Lycianthes rantonnetii (Carrière) Bitter
Synonyms
Solanum rantonnei orth. var. Carrière Solanum rantonnetii Carrière

It has been given the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[3][4]

The species is named for Barthélémy Victor Rantonnet, a 19th-century French horticulturalist.[5]

Lycianthes rantonnetii has previously been placed in Solanum, a huge genus which has recently been the subject of major investigation, with species being transferred to and from several different genera. There are many rare and little-known species whose true placement has yet to be determined.