Thorny weed w/green striped fruits???

15 years ago

This thorny weed produces these light/dark green striped fruits and then spread by seed. Wondering what it is. Even when I'm pretty good about getting them before seeding, they still seem to be popping up. Now they're getting into the lawn where I like to sometimes go barefoot. Ouch!! Sorry - forgot to include something for scale in pic. They grow to about 8in. high. Pic is of one that is riddled with holes, which they are not usually.

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Comments (5)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
15 years ago
Looks like Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum). Check some of the literature on Google and see if it's a match.
ishagirl
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you rhizo1! I think you nailed it. Now that I know I'm dealing with such an invasive plant. I'll have to step up my efforts to getting rid of them.
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pamv_2008
15 years ago
Looks like horse nettle, another member of the nightshade family. It's a common perennial weed here.
ishagirl
Original Author
15 years ago
I looked at horse nettle, and no, it's not that. Horse nettle seems to have more clusters of berries, and they are not striped the same way, and don't seem to stay green. I think the tropical soda apple is more likely.
bob64
15 years ago
I've seen the soda apple during visits to Florida (the invasives capital of the continental U.S. - but here in NY we are doing our best to catch up and even now have Kudzu in places). Georgia is close to Florida so it seems possible.