Bittersweet - Solanum dulcamara

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Alternative names
Woody Nightshade
Description

Scrambling plant with stems sometimes reaching 2 metres. Leaves arrow shaped or heart shaped. Flowers purple with pale yellow anthers (very rarely white), 10 to 15 mm nodding with reflexed petals. Berry egg shaped, shiny and red when ripe.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Woods, hedgerows and scrub.

When to see it

June to September.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Very common throughout Britain except in the extreme north.

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 600 of the 617 tetrads.

  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    20 August 2009
  • Alan Semper
    Melton Country Park
    04 August 2015
    rare white form
  • David Nicholls
    Groby Pool
    15 September 2005
    fruits
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    26 May 2016
    leaves
  • Graham Calow
    Wash Pit, Sapcote
    11 August 2008
    flowers

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Bittersweet, Woody Nightshade
Species group:
flowering plant
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Solanales
Family:
Solanaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
392
First record:
11/05/1992 (John Mousley;Steve Grover)
Last record:
27/10/2025 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Alan Semper
    Melton Country Park
    04 August 2015
  • Graham Calow
    Near High Cross
    09 June 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    03 July 2007
  • Ron.stevens
    Broughton Astley
    05 June 2011
  • David Gould
    The Spearwort Fields, Aylestone, Leicester
    10 July 2016
  • David Nicholls
    Abbey Park, Leicester
    20 May 2011
  • Ron.stevens
    Broughton Astley
    24 June 2011
  • Ron.stevens
    Broughton Astley
    24 June 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Lea Meadows
    16 October 2011
  • Alan Semper
    Harby hedge
    25 September 2011
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    10 June 2012
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    10 June 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby
    09 June 2012
  • HAPeacock
    The Orchards
    19 June 2012
  • Barbara Cooper
    Clawson Hill
    23 June 2012
  • Alan Semper
    Harby, canal nr bridge 41
    01 July 2012
  • Craig Mabbett
    Broughton astley brook
    15 June 2014
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    12 June 2013
  • Lostash
    Whetstone Fields
    15 May 2014
Photo of the association

Acrolepia autumnitella

The larvae of the moth Acrolepia autumnitella mine the leaves of Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) or occasionally Deadly Nightshade forming large whitish or translucent blotches. 

Photo of the association

Scrobipalpa costella

The larvae of the moth Scrobipalpa costella mine the leaves of Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) starting in the midrib and then causing dark blotches in the leaf blade beside the midrib or main vein.