So lovely flower! Widely known by the common name of blue potato bush, this species is also called blue Lycianthes, Paraguay nightshade, and royal robe. The use of the common name of nightshade is not surprising because this plant was mistakenly thought to be one of the nightshade species, even though it is not.
Named after the 19th-century French horticulturist, Barthélémy Victor Rantonnet, the botanical name for this plant is generally accepted as Lycianthes rantonnetii. It is also known as Solanum rantonnetii. The genus name is taken from the Greek word lykion which means ‘a thorny bush’, and anthos which means flower.
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Lycianthes rantonnetii is a species of flowering shrub in the family Solanaceae. Cultivated as ornamental the world over, you might deem it boring and decide to pass it over. But you'd be wrong.
The blue potato bush is one of about 150 species in the genus Lycianthes, which are found mostly in tropical regions of the Americas, with others in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Growing to about 6 ft (1.8 m) tall and broad, it is a rounded evergreen shrub with a somewhat lax habit. A profusion of trumpet-shaped, bright blue-purple flowers with a prominent yellow eye appear in summer, followed by red berries. It is widely cultivated and may be hardy in mild or coastal areas. Alternatively it can be grown in a container and brought under cover in winter. It requires a sheltered location in full sun. Though related to food plants like the potato and tomato, all parts of the plant are considered toxic to humans.
