This plant is growing amongst the raspberries in my backyard garden in the Como Park neighborhood. Never noticed it before this year. The red berries are hanging right next to my raspberries. I'm wondering how dangerous they are since I have a 3 year old and children frequently visit my raspberry patch. Very pretty plant, though, and if it's not that poisonous, then I wouldn't want to rip it out. But if it IS fairly poisonous, then I would also appreciate tips on how to safely and effectively remove it from my garden.

I would remove it, especially since you have it growing near other berry-producing plants. Best to get it before it spreads and takes over your yard, like it almost did in mine. Pulling isn't likely to be effective because the stems are pretty weak and will only break off, then it will just resprout. Herbicides like weed-be-gone should be effective.

I would remove it. Although you aren't likely to see violent sickness as with its sister plant deadly nightshade, the berries can cause nausea in any quantity. Be sure to remove it quickly, as with most weeds bittersweet nightshade can easily choke away other plants and claim your yard.

Definitely remove it. Bittersweet noxious is not native to North America, and is considered an invasive noxious weed: http://www.invasive.org/species/subject.cfm?sub=6448

I just want to mention that the term "noxious weed" has a very specific meaning. The MN Dept of Agriculture categorizes those plants into various primary and secondary groups of prohibited or restricted species, some of which are only considered noxious in some counties rather than statewide. Most "noxious" plants on the lists are actually agricultural pests, not necessarily ecological pests.

So while it is true that bittersweet nightshade is non-native and can be a pest, it is not on the official Minnesota Noxious Weed list.

I have this junk all over my yard. At first I thought it was pretty, but now I just want to trash and burn it. It pops up everywhere and if it gets big by anything, it will push up concrete or move other plants easily. Good luck getting rid of it...it still shows up even through nothing alive will touch the berries!!

I have seen this in both Moorhead and now in Rochester. When I lived in Moorhead it grew all through and around my beautiful Miss Kim lilac and killed it. If the ground is really soft you can pull it out which for me was the most effective way of eradicating it.

It is taking root in some landscaped dirt we dumped under our evergreen and quickly growing to vine through adjacent fencing. I'm pulling it today! Thanks for the information!!!!

Yep, same in my backyard, specifically in the corners by where the fence edges meet. I've a toddler and an infant, so these need to go now.

I had a pretty large infestation under the trees that surround my yard. Last year we pulled everything then spread a thick layer of wood chips over it. So far very little has come up through the wood chips and anything that does gets yanked before it has a chance to flower. So far so good.

A few purple nightshade plants were in our front yard native prairie grass garden. The city inspector spotted them and advised removal--done. Both the blossoms and berries are colorful, but to be safe for kids they must go. Teach kids that bright red means "STOP--Don't eat me!" My 5-yr-old grand-daughter brought up the color code for safe eating on a recent outing in St. Paul at the Lilydale park fossil area, so the nature educators are on the job.

I have had one plant that comes back every year. Near a run off, hasn't been a problem.

this plant cross pollinated with my tomato plants i didn't know about it until eating one of the reached tomatos they made me vomit followed buy terrible vertigo

just cut down bitter night shade that was taking over my clamatis trellis

I'd like to point out that this is NOT deadly nightshade. Although it is poisonous, deadly nightshade is a different species.

Kay, I'd like to point out that some plants go by many common names, and the same common name can apply to more than one species. That's the problem using only common names to identify a particular species. So, deadly nightshade may refer to this as well as other species.

Just when I think I've finally gotten rid of this weed it pops up somewhere else in my yard. Very persistent weed.

I have seen these around the Westwood nature center marsh here in St Louis park. Its why I came to this website. Sure is pretty for an invasive poison weed lol.

I recently moved to Duluth and am attempting to identify the types of plants growing in my yard -- both native and non-native. While doing so, I spotted the diminutive, pretty flowers and delicate vine of a nightshade plant in the shade under a cedar tree that grows near the sidewalk on the northeast side of my house. I was hoping that it was a native plant, but after checking this web site, found that it is an invasive species ----- so out it will come today and into the garbage it will go. Thanks for the information. I'm using your web site quite a bit these days!

We just found some of this plant in our yard. It was the first time we have spotted it. We pulled it out and hope it won't return.

Like others, stumbled upon this page looking for info on this plant. Discovered by accident that we had this growing along the fence behind our shed when my 2 year-old ran up to me in the yard yesterday and said, "Mommy! Peas!" He had a handful of the green unripened berries. :-/ Asked him to show me where the "peas" were and found multiple vines weaving between the fence. That area of the yard is very shady, moist, and isolated. I'm emailing the neighbors (they have young kids, too, and we both have dogs) and hopefully we'll get rid of it

I hate this plant. I am contantly pulling it, as I don't like using herbicides. Is there another way to rid myself of this plant if pulling doesn't work?

Alika, pull everything you can then smother it with lots of mulch. We used wood chips and it has been quite effective.

My uncle found this amongst his hedges and wondered what this strange vine was and he thought perhaps he didn't want it in there since it seemed to be choking the other things. This was helpful info with the pictures and measurements to help ID this plant and confirm why no wildlife wanted to eat the berries. Found in Duluth MN.

found these growing in a small thicket by my property line between yards.

Is it safe to burn what gets pulled?

This is considered an invasive by the Forest Service: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/bittersweet-nightshade.pdf. Why is this listed on a Minnesota wildflower list when it isn't even native to North America?

Jennifer, our goal is to profile ALL plants found in the wild, not just natives. People want to know which are the weeds, too, and it's important to teach that as well. The chart of general plant info that's at the top of the page indicates whether it is native or not.

Found a lot of this flower growing along a path in Jonathan and never knew what it was. It is rather pretty!

R they poisn to dogs

Just discovered this growing on the edge of our woods. I have been here over 20yrs, but this is the first year I noticed it. Sorry to hear its not a native plant.

Found this invading my daughter's flower garden and shade garden as well as climbing up her pine trees. I pulled lots of it with the red berries this weekend. Very invasive but easy to pull out.

It started in our yard under balsam fir trees about 4 years ago, we began to remove it once we found out its berries were toxic. It has now spread to the ash swamp next to our yard. This summer it really progressed in the ash swamp and has become very thick throughout.

This vine has almost choked out our evergreen bushes.

I just found this growing in my back yard flower bed....It was not a plant I had planted and had to come here to locate what it was. It is a beautiful plant but after reading the posts here I plant to remove it immediately...I have many birds come to my back yard every year in the spring and wonder if maybe it was brought to me by them.

This plant started under my deck a few years ago... we cut off the branches that were sticking through the floorboards and left the rest. BIG MISTAKE... the next year, this plant spread to all the bushes around my deck and choked them out.. we pulled them a few times a season, however, nothing seems to kill them. The year after they spread to my blue spruce and took that over, and then to all the bushes around my home, choking out my dogwood and basically making a big mess. This stuff grows so fast, you can pull these all weekend and the next weekend there are 1ft vines back. A few times a year we pull these suckers and fill the back of a pickup overflowing. :-(. I am checking with an extension agent to see what we can do to control this stuff!!! rant over

We just moved into our house a week ago and noticed this bastard growing everywhere. The previous owners must have liked the flowers because it was everywhere. Damn near filled a 90 gallon garbage can with its weeds and roots. When left to grow, apparently, the roots are about as thick as a broom handle and incredibly long. Its a pain to get them out. Some roots have gone under the house.

Having a problem with it every year i pull it roots and all it comes back even changed the dirt and before i changed the dirt i used herbicide to see if i could kill it but nothing working if i cut the stems to the roots off no joke with in a week it grows back today 7/4/15 i removed it by the roots it i comes back i calling the MDA or USDA to see what can be done cos i have a small dog she likes trying to eat it i Don't know what i Would do if god forebid ever happens to her

Justin, try pulling out all you can then add a thick layer of wood chips for mulch. It worked for us. Didn't see a sign of it for several years after that. Some is coming back now but we're putting down a fresh layer of chips which should keep it at bay.

Well now this is embarrassing....I actually transplanted this from my back yard weed garden to a nice place up front by my porch thinking it was very pretty. I'll be yanking it out asap!

Move into a new house and found this growing by the fence. Ripped it out yesterday b/c it was ugly, but now I'm glad to at least know what it is. Do my best to keep it away!

I have this in my backyard and have been pulling it for years. I work in the conservation field and have found this throughout Winona County in various areas.

I can remember this plant all over every empty lot or woodsy places I roamed as a child in Illinois. Now I'm in MN and I see it here and there, too. I do have some in my yard, in a hedgerow. It is pretty, I leave it alone, it's among other wild things, not doing any harm. I see it along some roadsides up here too.

Saw this stuff in my backyard behind my shed by the wood pile. At first I didn't worry about it as was behind the shed and the flowers were pretty, then I started seeing the red berries and began to think it was annoying as it kept spreading. I started to pull it all out and glad I did once I read all of the other comments. Have never seen it before and no neighbors have ever talked about it.

It is all mixed in with my grape vine... started pulling it out and apart... will let you know if it comes back

Hello - Just found this plant in the prairie area that I am restoring. Since it is not native, I will be removing it. Thank you for your website!

suppose I could pour vinegar on it to kill it? I have a bunch growing in a wood pile by our fence

Jane, vinegar does not kill perennials, it just damages the above ground parts that come in direct contact with it. Pull it, then smother with woodchips. That worked for us.

I have this in my yard, it never seems to spread anywhere, so I leave it. It's pretty and I hope it has some food value for the birds??????

Growing along the shore of Fish Lake

I just identified this new vine growing up an arbor in my backyard. I was amazed at how easily I found it online since I've never seen it before. Kudos to your knowledgeable website. Thanks!

We have this growing in our front flower bed. We moved in a little over 3 years ago and have been working on the backyard and have been redoing everything back there. But now as we begin the work on the front i spotted this unique plant and was able to identify it using this site. Now i just need to kmow what to do with it. Thanks

Found this in our backyard in Afton, MN today (7/13/17). It is so unique and beautiful, too bad it is invasive! Thank you for the info.

This plant is growing at the base of an evergreen in my yard and into a raspberry bush. Not a good place for it since the kids all clamor to get at the berries and might mistake one of these for a raspberry! I pulled it but I know there are several more in the area. S MINNEAPOLIS near Lake Hiawatha.

I just found a large patch of this in my back lot (Newport) near a very wet area and pulled it out. I found it a few weeks ago along my relative's fence line in Richfield. When I lived in Maple Grove near the park reserve it was a constant problem. Does burning kill the seeds or help it propagate? I've always just thrown the whole thing into the fire, but if that's going to help it sprout up new plants I'd like to know.

We had an area of our woods harvested last winter, 2017, and now have found this plant. We are going to dig it out and dispose of it. Thank you!

There is a variety of this plant in the greenspace areas around our building. I always thought it was a woodland plant, as I have usually seen a version of it hiking in other states also.

This is growing in the oak woods right behind our house.

If you see this stuff, kill it as fast as you can. It will take over everything else. I clipped off the berries alone last night and had a TON of it. Put it all in the garbage, will spray what's left with RoundUp (glyphosate).

We found this plant growing like crazy in our tree rows this year, along with wild cucumber. Pulling it out. What a chore.

I've seen this in my yard for a number of years and always pulled it out while it was small and before flowering.This year a clump revealed itself after a June storm took down a tree along side a creek/ditch and flowered so nicely. Hubby didn't cut it down as he thought I wanted to save it (wildflower?)I decided it was a weed as it was growing just too well and identified it using Stan Tekiela's field guide Wildflowers of MN. I was so glad to find your site and confirm identity.Picked all berries and tossed with the plants, roots & all. Now if I could just get rid of the poison ivy & Virginia creeper out back and the thistle & leafy spurge across the road it would make my summer ;)

Nature can be so beautiful yet poisonous. I had this growing in my front yard. I thought it was pretty and wrapped it around my railing early September. I finally did some research and bam, it's a weed and the fruit may be poisonous. Well, there goes me a job to remove it.

We had this suddenly begin growing all along our back fence line. It wasn't there last year or any other year prior. Can it spontaneously begin growing or do seeds have to be planted?

Sarah, seed is transported by all manner of things: wind, water, critters, tire treads (ATVs, bikes, cars), mowers... Yours could have come from any number of sources.

I've been fighting this pretty beast for several years- pulling it by hand from the beds behind our garage. Glad to hear wood chip mulching is effective after pulling, will try that too once Spring gets here. A former brother in law posted pictures on FB last Spring of a "grapevine" plant he'd planted by seed indoors..lo and behold, from a pkg of seeds he'd purchased at Home Depot- and it was actually Nightshade! I informed/educated him- but what kind of seed company would sell this invasive and potentially dangerous thing under the false name of "Grapevine"?

I have been fighting this plant in my raspberries for years. I did not clean up my raspberry bed last fall and this plant is everywhere! I am pulling and pulling. Ugh! Does it spread under the ground too?

Just figured out what this was today. Is growing in my next door neighbors side yard (next to mine). I'll go spray it - they do absolutely nothing in their yard (we've lived here 4 1/2 years now).

Wow, thanks to everyone! I just found this in my yard and thought it was pretty. With 2 dogs and a cat running around I figured I'd better find out what it is. Between it being near the garden and the lilacs, I am going to pull it and mulch it.

This is growing all over our yard by our fence, in Cottage Grove.. It is getting pulled out today as our puppy has decided he want so put everything into his mouth, including the unripe berries.

This has taken over my fence, trees, and bushes, like crazy in the last month and I've never seen it before this year!! It all got wripped out today! Soft ground and pulling from deep at the root base and it came out fairly easy, it's dealing with the huge long vines that is a pain.

I live in a rural area just northeast of rochester - former pastureland developed with 12 homes. This plant is very persistent along edge of wooded areas, wild raspberry patches, and disturbed areas. Easy to rip out, but keeps coming back.

Tried using 20% white vinegar on it, and it didn't even faze it. It's still as green as it can be despite other plants getting annihilated.

Just found this pretty flower wrapped around our sumac in Savage, MN. Thanks for info, will pull and mulch!

This plant has completely taken over my lawn and is very invasive in my flower beds. I see it in most lawns in town.

Found this growing in my raspberry patch, pretty flowers but a nasty pest, difficult to pull in raspberries. Think i'll be looking for a herbicide to eradicate it, now i know what it is.

Somebody mentioned burning this stuff. I know burning poison ivy is not good, but how about this stuff???? Could the poison be aerosolized or put into the form of noxious particles if burned?

Kyle, it's a different kind of toxin. Go ahead and burn.

I have something like this in my backyard with black berries. Is it the same thing or different? My new pup found and ate some!

Linda, you likely have Solanum ptychanthum, black nightshade.

This is growing in the middle of our lilac bush. It's beautiful so I came on a search to find out what it was. Glad I didn't mess with it, but I'm happy to hear it's not as toxic as its relatives.

Does anyone know if there are any birds that rely on the berries? I know there is in Europe. I have a patch of this in our yard, but I haven't pulled it because it's full of baby bumblebees. I've been digging out part of the yard to turn to native plants anyway. Once the flowers are done I may work on getting it out, but not if some birds depend on it, then I'll wait til fall.

Melissa, this plant does not have a significant value to any native wildlife. Native plants have higher value.

I've found this in various places growing on the shoreline of Gull Lake. Encouraged owners to pull up.

I have been seeing the red berries along the fence we share with neighbors, hadn't seen the flowers until this summer. I'll certainly be pulling this out, although I'm not sure my neighbors will...

Growing in small clumps all along the trails, under and around other plants that seemed to be keeping it in check.

Planted in a flower bed by previous owner. Very pernicious. I hand pull it. Ugh.

Kind of bummed to read that I should pull this since the bumble bees seem to love it. Discovered a new bug though? Colorado potato beetle which also loves it. Pulling this stuff today.

I found a huge bush of this growing in my neighborhood's prairie space and was honestly shocked. It's gorgeous, but I don't think any of the families with kids nearby know about it, which has me nervous.

Maps need update. I found this in a row of old wind break pines between corn fields Isanti co.

David, the maps reflect what's been previously recorded by the DNR's biological surveys and the University of MN Herbariums (St Paul and Duluth). Weeds in particular are most likely to be under-reported, since they often pop up in places outside of the usual survey areas. The best way to get the maps updated is to submit a specimen to the Bell Herbarium, then it becomes part of the official county record.

I believe I found some of this in my son's raspberry patch. I crushed one of the ripe berries between my fingers and it smelled like tomato jam. Any idea if the berries of bittersweet nightshade smell like tomato jam?

Ken, nightshade is in the same family as tomatoes, so the fragrance you noted is not unexpected.

We have a very large patch of this that grows up the side of our deck. We have TONS of bumblebees that are in it all day. Last year we did see some birds eating the berries, but have not seen them this year. It has never spread out from where it is now, but can not seem to get rid of it. Is it safe to leave for the bees?

Stephanie, seed is spread by wind, water and critters and could travel well beyond your own yard, you just may not see it. Are the bees visiting it because there isn't anything better? A variety of native plants will serve the native bees better.

I allowed this to grow because the bees liked it. It's spread way too much. Today I spent an hour trying to take back my Rose bushes.

There are some bushes growing in Kelly Lake.

Found:
-base of Clematis
-around stump of my old willow tree
-corner of the yard behind hostas

I was trimming dead lower branches from a large spruce tree and found this vine climbing the trunk and branches. I thought it was kind of pretty. I really appreciate the information provided on this site, it made identification easy and explained the origin and characteristics of the vine. I will not hesitate to pull it out now since it is an invasive species!

Bought a house last year end of summer. Found this in the wooded area behind my house growing amongst my raspberry bushes. Pretty flower but with pets, kids & my raspberries, I will be trying to remove it.

Bought a house on 1+ acre, mostly wooded and uncultivated lot. Several invasives + bittersweet nightshade. Continuing to hand-pull to eradicate.

I transplanted some from under a spruce tree, and it has grown well and looks great growing up my corn crib. I like the colored flowers and berries... People seem to dish on it, but so far, I like it.

Found it in my backyard growing near some bushes that the birds like which is how I assume it got into my yard as I just found it and I have lived here for 10+ years. Cut down and pulling out and spraying with Round Up as this kills it. My daughter was pulling it out and found that it has a tap root so I am happy to spray it although I do not use herbicides regularly.

First found it growing 2022 in a patch I've dedicated to whatever decides to come up. It's attractive in its own way so I'm glad it's not noxious or proscribed. I want to watch and see what insects it attracts.

Julie, you'll want to keep your eye on it, as it can spread far and wide pretty quickly from underground stems.

I found bittersweet nightshade growing under patches of trees. Some is growing into fences around schools in Saint Cloud.

I just found this growing just outside of my garden bed. I've never seen it before, but it's only one single plant.

Kelly, it may appear to be one single plant now, but it won't stay that way for long. The underground stems will send it everywhere.

This vine has completely taken over a nearby stream bed in less than 2 years. It also is smothering white pines and red osier dogwood on the stream edges. It grows from both banks of the stream tributary and reaches across it , impeding the natural flow. How do you get rid of the roots that extend into the stream bed without disseminating it further??? I am afraid it will make the water stagnate and fill in with topsoil/runoff if I do nothing.

Jen, you might try asking your county's Soil and Water Conservation District for guidance, but don't expect much.

We relocated from the west coast to Minnesota, letting our yard grow out (please forgive me neighbors) in order to see what is growing on our city lot, our home. I take pictures of all unidentified plants to see how/what to do our yard. This plant is everywhere and I was hoping to make stuff from it. nope. Thank you all for the information, I'm digging the plant out by the roots every time it rears its head.

Found this growing in some trees by East Lake Sylvia. Glad I now know what it is.

This plant emerged on a sunny slope of our property after we had to remove seven old red oaks with Oak Wilt. It is a scourge and requires constant removal to prevent a massive takeover of the natives I am cultivating there.

Roundup kills the micro herd that keeps us alive and also causes cancer (a friend was awarded a $$$$$ settlement from Monsanto). We have stopped using any chemicals in the yard and manually remove anything nonnative. We're in it for the long haul! Whenever a nonnative is left in place or planted, it takes up space for a native plant that could feed and nurture pollinators. Research has found that native birds/insects etc go to native plants first for food. We're going with the hand pulling and wood chip method for the nightshade showing up in the yard.

Bought a house in January. Saw this in the rock garden & didn't know what it was. Pretty flowers but if it's toxic to pets & people then I'll have to get rid of it. Was hoping it was native plant but nope.😟

I have a few of them growing in my dogwood hedge. I think we've had them for many years, but I only just looked it up on a plant identification app and learned what it was.

Was pulling weeds and invasives from a tree in my yard and discovered this. It's very pretty, but I suspected it was some thing I didn't want to leave

I live in a heavily wooded and wetland area. I have this growing in several places around my house. I pull it by hand, but some roots are so large and deep that I end up just pulling off the above dirt. Sounds like I may need to get nasty with this plant.

Spotted in Sterns, Meeker, and McLeod County. Litchfield, Dassel and Hutchinson specifically. Seeing much more this year than last year, which I find concerning. It popped up in my own backyard here in Paynseville and spread quick too this year. Already cleared out the berries and working on its root system now.

Found in multiple sites. 1st time it has been noticed. I tear out wild cucumbers yearly and found this one. Thought the flowers were pretty this spring.....nevermind. Another one to tear out.

I have these vines growing up my evergreen trees and killing them. It killed a lilac tree? What are they and how can I get rid of them? Ted vines with blue berries.

Laurie, while bittersweet nightshade may wrap around other vegetation, is not large or strong enough to kill a tree. It also has red berries. Blue berries are more likely wild grape or woodbine, but there is always the possibility of some garden escapee that is not native to MN.