About Solanum pyracanthos Lam.
Solanum pyracanthos Lam. is most easily recognized by the abundant, strong, straight fluorescent orange thorns that cover its stems and leaves, giving it a forbidding look. Thorns are present consistently across the entire plant, and develop clearly from the fuzzy trichomes that coat the plant's leaves and stems. Most sources note this shrub typically grows to between 1 and 5 feet (0.30–1.52 m) tall, though ornamental growers have reported taller specimens. This species is not cold-resistant; it will die if exposed to temperatures below freezing for more than a week. However, plants that die back over winter can regrow when extended periods of warm weather arrive. Its pinnately lobed leaves are 6 to 21 centimeters long. The plant blooms year-round, producing clusters of small, star-shaped violet inflorescences, which are followed by marble-sized greenish-yellow fruit. Solanum pyracanthos is grown as an ornamental plant across the world. It needs moderate water and sun, a warm climate, and soil that ranges from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. The plant produces a very large number of seeds, so it must be handled with care, because any new saplings grow aggressively and develop their large thorns right away.
