Climbing Flower Cup

The Climbing Flower-cup, Solanum seaforthianum, also known as the Brazilian Nightshade or Star Potato Vine, is a slender, fast-growing twining vine in the family Solanaceae native to South America, primarily Brazil and adjacent countries. The species is cultivated as an ornamental in warm temperate and tropical gardens worldwide for its clusters of small, star-shaped, violet-blue flowers with prominent yellow anthers, reminiscent of the related potato plant but produced in spectacular profusion. Small, berry-like red or orange fruits follow the flowers, attractive to birds which consume them and disperse seeds, facilitating naturalization in many non-native regions. Solanum seaforthianum has become invasive in tropical and subtropical parts of the world, particularly in the Pacific islands, Hawaii, parts of Africa, and Australia, where it smothers native vegetation in forest margins and disturbed areas. In Hawaii, it is listed as a noxious weed. The plant climbs aggressively over shrubs and trees, potentially outcompeting native plants. Despite its invasive behavior outside the native range, the species is valued horticulturally for its vigorous growth, prolific flowering, and tolerance of poor soils. Its berries are toxic to humans but are consumed by birds that tolerate the alkaloid compounds.