New Mexican Nightshade: A Mysterious Native Worth Knowing
If you’re the type of gardener who loves a good botanical mystery, then New Mexican nightshade (Solanum heterodoxum var. novomexicanum) might just pique your interest. This native annual belongs to the nightshade family, and while it may not be the showiest plant in your garden, it represents an intriguing piece of North American flora that deserves attention.
What Exactly Is New Mexican Nightshade?
New Mexican nightshade is classified as a forb—basically a non-woody herbaceous plant that completes its entire life cycle in a single growing season. Unlike shrubs or trees that develop thick, woody stems, this little native keeps things simple with soft, green stems that die back each winter.
As an annual, it puts all its energy into growing, flowering, setting seed, and passing the torch to the next generation within one year. It’s nature’s version of living fast and leaving a beautiful legacy.
Where Does It Call Home?
This native beauty has a rather interesting distribution pattern. You’ll find it growing naturally in two quite different regions: Illinois and New Mexico. That’s quite a geographic leap! This scattered distribution suggests there may be more to this plant’s story than meets the eye, and it highlights how some native species can adapt to surprisingly diverse conditions across the continent.
The Challenge of Growing a Botanical Enigma
Here’s where things get interesting (and a bit frustrating): New Mexican nightshade is one of those native plants that hasn’t received much attention from gardeners or researchers. While we know it’s native to North America and grows as an annual forb, specific information about its growing requirements, appearance, and garden performance is surprisingly scarce.
This lack of information presents both a challenge and an opportunity. On one hand, you won’t find detailed growing guides or cultivation tips readily available. On the other hand, if you’re interested in native plant conservation and discovery, this could be a fascinating species to observe and learn about.
Should You Grow New Mexican Nightshade?
The honest answer? It depends on your gardening goals and patience level. Here are some considerations:
- For the native plant enthusiast: This could be an exciting addition to a native plant collection, especially if you’re in Illinois or New Mexico
- For the casual gardener: You might want to start with better-documented native nightshades that have proven garden performance
- For the plant researcher: This represents an opportunity to contribute to botanical knowledge through careful observation and documentation
What We Can Guess About Growing Conditions
While specific growing information is limited, we can make some educated guesses based on its classification and native range:
- As an annual forb, it likely prefers well-draining soil
- Given its presence in both Illinois and New Mexico, it may be adaptable to various climate conditions
- Like most annuals, it probably needs to be replanted each year from seed
- Being native, it should be well-adapted to local conditions in its native range
The Responsible Approach
If you’re determined to grow New Mexican nightshade, here’s the responsible way to go about it:
- Only source seeds or plants from reputable native plant suppliers
- Ensure any material comes from local or regional sources when possible
- Never collect from wild populations
- Document your growing experience to contribute to botanical knowledge
- Connect with local native plant societies who might have more information
Alternative Native Nightshades
If you’re interested in native nightshades but want something with more established garden performance, consider looking into other native Solanum species that are better documented and more readily available through native plant sources.
The Bottom Line
New Mexican nightshade represents the fascinating world of lesser-known native plants. While it may not be the easiest choice for your garden, it offers an opportunity to connect with North American botanical heritage and potentially contribute to our understanding of native flora.
If you do decide to grow it, approach it as an adventure in native plant exploration rather than a guaranteed garden success. And who knows? You might just become one of the few gardeners with firsthand experience growing this mysterious native beauty.
