The blue witch nightshade, scientifically known as Solanum umbelliferum, is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It is native to western North America and can be found growing in various habitats such as woodlands, meadows, and open grasslands. The plant is characterized by its delicate blue-purple flowers and small, round berries that change from green to bright orange when ripe. Despite its name, the blue witch nightshade is not actually a witch or related to witches in any way. The name "witch" was given because of its association with witchcraft and its use in traditional medicinal practices. The blue witch nightshade has a long history of being used for its medicinal properties by Native American tribes.

Blue witch nightshade

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Dry, rocky slopes, canyons and mesas throughout the state, in various plant communities including chaparral, sage scrub, grassland, and woodlands

Annual Precipitation: 3.1" - 117.4", Summer Precipitation: 0.14" - 3.91", Coldest Month: 17.9" - 58.8", Hottest Month: 38.4" - 87.6", Humidity: 0.03" - 43.55", Elevation: -247" - 14460"

The blue witch nightshade has a long history of being used for its medicinal properties by Native American tribes. Various parts of the plant, including the leaves, roots, and berries, were used to treat a wide range of ailments such as fevers, toothaches, coughs, and skin conditions. It was also believed to have mystical properties and was used in rituals and ceremonies.

Bluewitch Nightshade

Sources include: Wikipedia. All text shown in the "About" section of these pages is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Plant observation data provided by the participants of the California Consortia of Herbaria, Sunset information provided by Jepson Flora Project. Propogation from seed information provided by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden from "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants" by Dara E. Emery. Sources of plant photos include CalPhotos, Wikimedia Commons, and independent plant photographers who have agreed to share their images with Calscape. Other general sources of information include Calflora, CNPS Manual of Vegetation Online, Jepson Flora Project, Las Pilitas, Theodore Payne, Tree of Life, The Xerces Society, and information provided by CNPS volunteer editors, with special thanks to Don Rideout. Climate data used in creation of plant range maps is from PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, using 30 year (1981-2010) annual "normals" at an 800 meter spatial resolution.

BLUE WITCH

The nightshade family or Solanaceae is familiar to most of us: tomatoes, eggplants, and most sweet and hot peppers are closely related to blue witch. Unlike our cultivated culinary classics, Solanum umbelliferum is not edible to humans or pets (in fact, it is highly toxic if ingested). Its fruit however, are a great treat for many visiting and resident birds. Even though the nightshades offer no nectar they are visited by bumblebees and a few other native bee species capable of “buzz pollinating” the flowers. Numerous moth species use blue witch as a larval host plant. This is especially important if you are trying to attract beneficial organisms into your garden, helping support local ecosystems. Moth (and butterfly) caterpillars are an important source of protein for our avian neighbors. It has been said that deer will choose other plants over Solanum if they are not too hungry.

On a mid-winter hike, before most plants start to bloom, you may have had the pleasure of spotting a spray of purple flowers vining up through the shrub layer. I’ve also seen blue witch mounded singularly upon the sheer slopes of a coastal bluff in the heat of early summer, still showing off their distinctive colors long after peak wildflower season. Depending on conditions, the bloom period for blue witch can extend from winter all the way through mid-summer. If you haven’t had the honor, look for grey-green stems poking up through chaparral and northern coastal scrub, or along the edges and openings of oak and mixed evergreen woodlands.

You can be sure you’ve found blue witch by taking a close look at the flower. There you’ll find two tell-tale green spots at the base of each fused petal. These spots are generally ringed by a white halo. The flowers are a little less than an inch across, rounded, purple-blue and made up of 5 fused petals with large orange/yellow anthers surrounding a single pistil. The fruit (a true berry) resembles a tiny green tomato ripening to purple/brown or black. This summer deciduous sub-shrub has a loose branching habit often twining up through the branches of another shrub, though it can also be found growing in a dense mound. Blue witch is pleasantly fragrant.

In a garden setting, S. umbelliferum will need moderate to good drainage and full-sun (at least in the winter). Given the open growth habit of blue witch, it is most effective when planted among other shrubs allowing hairy grey-green branches to pop up here and there dangling flower clusters in unexpected places. The companion plants you chose will depend upon where you live. Here on the central coast this interesting nightshade can be planted with toyon, coffee berry, sagebrush, California lilac, cream bush and bush monkey flower. Grey-green foliage creates an interesting color contrast against other more common darker shades of green. Blue witch tolerates a range of soil-types, and is drought tolerant. Watering once per month through the summer will encourage a longer bloom period and a fuller looking plant. Once established, this plant will survive fairly harsh conditions with little to no summer water.

Fun fact: Solanum umbelliferum hybridizes with two other native purple flowered nightshades, S. xanti and S.parishii. Taxonomists remark that these species need more study to fully understand the differences between the three.

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Information put together using our personal libraries of California floras and herbal medicine books, as well as Wikipedia, Calscape, Calflora, and UC Jepson websites.

Solanum xanti - Blue Witch, Purple Nightshade (Plant)

Long bloom season with deep, infrequent watering. Good wildlife plant--berries attract birds, but are not edible for humans. This is a member of the nightshade family. Caution: all parts are toxic.

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While the blue witch nightshade does have some medicinal benefits, it is important to note that the plant is highly toxic. All parts of the plant contain solanine, a toxic alkaloid that can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even death if ingested in large quantities. As a result, it is not recommended to use the plant for medicinal purposes without proper knowledge and guidance. In addition to its medicinal uses, the blue witch nightshade is also valued for its ornamental qualities. Its attractive flowers and berries make it a popular choice for gardens and landscaping. However, it should be noted that the plant can be invasive and may spread rapidly if not properly controlled. In conclusion, the blue witch nightshade is a perennial herbaceous plant native to western North America. It has a long history of medicinal use by Native American tribes, although it is highly toxic and should be used with caution. Its attractive flowers and berries also make it a popular choice for gardens and landscaping..

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The Uses of Blue Witch Nightshade in Witchcraft and Spells