One to watch out for. Carolina Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense), all parts of the plant are poisonous including cherry tomato-looking berries which turn yellow when ripe. Native to southeastern United States but has spread widely.
Carolina Horsenettle
Published by
Brenda Clements Jones
Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs. View all posts by Brenda Clements Jones
This is the nastiest plant, prolific in every garden, spreading with lateral roots. that I can’t seem to get all of, ever. The thorns are sharp enough to pierce my heaviest garden gloves; I now use an old rag to wrap the stems to pull as I dig.
I never knew it was poisonous, so thanks, I will be a bit more careful in the future as I handle it. I do like the flowers though.