Carolina Horsenettle Solanum carolinense Linnaeus  
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Solanales   >   Family Solanaceae   >   Genus Solanum   

Status:

Carolina Horsenettle is native to the eastern United States, but has spread throughout most of the country. It is considered by many farmers and breeders of livestock to be a noxious weed. It is common throughout Maryland. It has been documented in all 23 Maryland counties.

Description:

Unmistakable in Maryland. The shape of the prickly foliage, lavender flowers with bright yellow anthers, and the yellow fruit are easily identifiable. The fruit persist throughout winter.

Where to find:

Carolina Horsenettle prefers open areas with lots of sun. Roadsides, disturbed grasslands, pastures, and vacant lots are a few of the favored habitats.

Relationships:

Pollinated by bumblebees.

A larval host plant for False Potato Beetle and Colorado Potato Beetle.

Host plant for the moth species Frumenta nundinella and Riley's Clearwing. Caterpillars of Salt Marsh Moth and Carolina Sphinx have been observed feeding on Carolina Horsenettle.

There are 694 records in the project database.

View species at Maryland Plant Atlas

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Carolina Horsenettle in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/17/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle blooming in Howard Co., Maryland (7/16/2016). Photo by Jim Wilkinson. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle blooming in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/13/2014). Photo by Max Wilson. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Howard Co., Maryland (7/21/2014). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/19/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (7/5/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/25/2016). Photo by Bill Hill. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle blooming in Howard Co., Maryland (6/19/2014). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (7/20/2014). Photo by Kimberly Booth. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle blooming in Harford Co., Maryland (9/10/1983). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/15/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/2/2014). Photo by Fritz Flohr Reynolds. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/31/2020). (c) johnbotany, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by John Hall. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Kent Co., Maryland (7/5/2016). Photo by Nancy Martin. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Howard Co., Maryland (10/24/2019). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (7/16/2016). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Allegany Co., Maryland (10/5/2014). Photo by Kimberly Booth. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/15/2017). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle growing in Howard Co., Maryland (1/27/2018). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

The distinctive fruit of Carolina Horsenettle is often retained through winter - Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (2/18/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle fruit in Prince George's Co., Maryland (1/21/2016). Photo by David Hilmy. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (2/24/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle (fruit in winter) in Harford Co., Maryland (12/6/2015). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

An older Carolina Horsenettle plant post bloom in Talbot Co., Maryland (8/19/2012). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Howard Co., Maryland (3/22/2019). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Howard Co., Maryland (3/22/2019). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

Carolina Horsenettle in Howard Co., Maryland (3/22/2019). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)


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