Solanum atropurpureum, commonly known as malevolence, purple devil and the five-minute plant, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Brazil. S. atropurpureum contains various toxic tropane alkaloids in its fruit, stems, and leaves, and should not be ingested.The plant is a small shrub growing 1.2 to 1.8 meters in height and 90 to 120 cm in width with ovate, spade shaped leaves 5 to 10 cm long when fully grown. It blooms yellow to white flowers in the late spring to mid summer, and produces small (1–2 cm wide) orange fruit. The fruit's juices can be irritating to the touch, so it is recommended that gloves be used when removing or handling. The plant is characterized by its purple stems, which are completely covered by striking purple and green thorns about 2 cm long, from which its common names are ostensibly derived. The plant is short lived with a 3 to 5-year lifespan. The plant can be grown ornamentally, requiring full sun and modest water. The plant is known to grow in a wide variety of soils and can resist temperatures as low as −10 °C (14 °F) for a few days. Seeds can be harvested from the fruits, and stem cuttings can be used to grow the plant in about 10 to 20 days. It is also known as a natural reservoir of the potato virus X.
Purple devil has strong resistance to disease and is usually not prone to illnesses. In terms of care, the plant is fairly low-maintenance. Planted outdoors, it needs little watering, and larger plants typically do not require pruning. Smaller plants, however, should be pruned after they have finished blooming. Purple devil is well suited for anyone with an outdoor area, like a garden or deck, and does not demand much plant-care experience.
How to keep Solanum Atropurpureum.
Light
Purple devil is native to open habitats, like sunny meadows and forest edges, which supply plentiful light. It does best in Full Sun but will also tolerate Partial Sun, adapting well to a range of sunlight conditions.
Temperature
Purple devil adapts well to temperature, tolerating high heat and wide temperature fluctuations. In hot conditions, care should be taken to water properly and provide suitable shade to prevent sunburn. Conversely, Purple devil is less tolerant of low temperatures; it can handle some cold, but very cold conditions may cause frost damage.
Fertilizer
Timing is essential when fertilizing Purple devil. Apply fertilizer in early spring and continue once a month until early summer. The fertilizer promotes lovely blooms and supplies energy during both dormant and active growth phases.
Pruning
The purple devil plant features spiny stems and produces deep purple fruits. To maintain its health, prune the plant in early spring. This will help remove dead growth, shape the plant, and improve air circulation. Regular pruning also reduces the risk of pests and encourages healthy growth. Be sure to use clean, sharp tools to make effective cuts and prevent the spread of disease.
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Shrub
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Solanum
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 9-11
- Mature Height
- 0.91 m to 2.13 m
- Mature Spread
- 61 cm to 91 cm
- Leaf Color
- Green
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
- Flower Color
- White, Yellow
- Flower Size
- 2.03 cm to 3.05 cm
- Bloom Time
- Late spring, Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer
- Harvest Time
- Mid summer, Late summer, Fall
- Native Area
- Colombia
Other names.
