| Garden Huckleberry | |
| Solanum melanocerasum | |
| a.k.a. Wonderberry, Sunberry |
Small, dark purple or purple or black fruit that is edible (despite looking like nightshade) and is usually cooked or boiled before eating. See below for more explanation.
Description: Very small shrub, usually growing to only 12-24". There are a number
of varieties of garden huckleberry to which there is some confusion.
The wonderberry is actually a garden huckleberry
variant hybridized by famed plant breeder Luther Burbank. Wonderberries
have superior flavor to most garden huckleberries, although there are
some sweet varieties of garden huckleberry that are worthwhile for the
home grower. Caution should be advised not to confuse the fruits with
those of nighshade (a very close relative), as nightshade fruits are
highly poisonous.
Hardiness: Not frost hardy. Will reseed in areas of frost.
Sunset
Zones: All
zones
USDA: All zones
Growing Environment: Plants require
virtually no care other than water. Grow in the ground or in pots, plants
are fairly short lived and make excellent annuals.
Propagation: By seed. May fruit in just 2-3 months.
Uses: Cooked and used as a flavoring for various desserts. The unripe (green) berries are poisonous.
Native Range: A variety of the deadly nightshade, supposedly originating from Africa.