Black Nightshade Berries: A Misunderstood Wild Edible — Four Season Foraging

The name black nightshade (Solanum americanum, S. nigrum and S. ptychanthum) often elicits fear due to its assumed toxicity. However, like tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers, this plant is actually an edible member of the nightshade family! Learn how to identify and eat it in this video.

Important note: Like with any new food, it is best to try a little bit first and wait 24 hours to see how your body reacts. Proceed with extra caution, or avoid completely, if you have allergies or sensitivities to other nightshades. Beware of deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), which looks somewhat similar and is poisonous. Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) is also poisonous, but should be very easy to tell apart from black nightshade.

Timestamps:

1:02 – What is black nightshade?

4:30 – How to identify black nightshade

6:26 – How to differentiate from deadly nightshade

9:27 – How to differentiate from bittersweet nightshade

10:14 – How to eat black nightshade

13:43 – Conclusion

Sam Thayer’s article on black nightshade can be found here. For an updated account, see the black nightshade chapter in his book Nature’s Garden.