Pretty and Poisonous Potato Bush
The Blue Potato Bush, native to Argentina and Paraguay, and growing in our back yard in California, has purple blooms all over it and seems to have enjoyed the recent rains.
Photo 1: Blue Potato Bush
The potato bush plant (Lycianthes rantonnetii) is closely related to potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants and although rather pretty to see it is a member of the Solanum family and is poisonous. Common names for this plant include blue potato bush, Paraguay nightshade and blue solanum shrub.
Photo 2: Paraguay nightshade in morning sunshine
Photo 3:Blue solanum shrub
