Atropa belladonna
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE
SKU: 16-020
Description
Atropa belladonna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is a poisonous perennial plant in the nightshade family. Its distribution extends from Great Britain in the west to western Ukraine and the Iranian province of Gilan in the east. It is also naturalized and/or introduced in some parts of Canada and the United States.
The foliage and berries are extremely toxic when ingested. Atropa belladonna has unpredictable effects. The ancient Romans used it as a poison (the wife of Emperor Augustus and the wife of Claudius both were rumored to have used it for murder); and, predating this, it was used to make poison-tipped arrows.
Plants grow to 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall with ovate leaves 18 centimetres (7.1 in) long. The bell-shaped flowers are pink/purple with green tinges and faintly scented. The fruits are berries, which are green, ripening to a shiny-black, and approximately 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) in diameter. The berries are consumed by animals that disperse the seeds in their droppings, even though they contain toxic alkaloids.
Atropa belladonna is native to temperate southern and central Europe but has been cultivated and introduced outside its native range. It is naturalized in parts of North America, where it is often found in shady, moist locations with limestone-rich soils.
Type: Hardy perennial
Hardiness zones: 5-9
Location: Shade or part shade
Seeds per pack: 20
Note: Ornamental use only. These seeds and/or plants are very poisonous.
Germination: Start these seeds right away for best germination rates. Start indoors. Your planting container should have holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Sow the seeds just under the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Leave them at room temperature for 4 weeks. This helps break the phytohormones which inhibit germination. They will not grow yet. Then a cooling period is required. Cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 80 days. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to a cool room (15C, 59F) for them to germinate. Germination is generally 30-90 days after the warming period, though some can take longer.
Description
Atropa belladonna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is a poisonous perennial plant in the nightshade family. Its distribution extends from Great Britain in the west to western Ukraine and the Iranian province of Gilan in the east. It is also naturalized and/or introduced in some parts of Canada and the United States.
The foliage and berries are extremely toxic when ingested. Atropa belladonna has unpredictable effects. The ancient Romans used it as a poison (the wife of Emperor Augustus and the wife of Claudius both were rumored to have used it for murder); and, predating this, it was used to make poison-tipped arrows.
Plants grow to 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall with ovate leaves 18 centimetres (7.1 in) long. The bell-shaped flowers are pink/purple with green tinges and faintly scented. The fruits are berries, which are green, ripening to a shiny-black, and approximately 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) in diameter. The berries are consumed by animals that disperse the seeds in their droppings, even though they contain toxic alkaloids.
Atropa belladonna is native to temperate southern and central Europe but has been cultivated and introduced outside its native range. It is naturalized in parts of North America, where it is often found in shady, moist locations with limestone-rich soils.
Type: Hardy perennial
Hardiness zones: 5-9
Location: Shade or part shade
Seeds per pack: 20
Note: Ornamental use only. These seeds and/or plants are very poisonous.
Germination: Start these seeds right away for best germination rates. Start indoors. Your planting container should have holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Sow the seeds just under the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Leave them at room temperature for 4 weeks. This helps break the phytohormones which inhibit germination. They will not grow yet. Then a cooling period is required. Cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 80 days. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to a cool room (15C, 59F) for them to germinate. Germination is generally 30-90 days after the warming period, though some can take longer.
