Jerusalem-cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum, Sp. Pl.: 184 (1753))

Family: Solanaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 184 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Solanum

Vegetable: False

Observations: Bolivia to Brazil and S. South America

Description

The Jerusalem-cherry, also known by its scientific name, Solanum pseudocapsicum, is an intriguing plant species belonging to the Solanaceae family. Originally described in Linnaeus’ “Species Plantarum” in 1753, the Jerusalem-cherry is native to a range of regions extending from Bolivia to Brazil and into Southern South America.

This ornamental plant is renowned for its glossy green foliage and bright, cherry-like fruits. Despite their appealing appearance, these fruits are toxic and should not be consumed. The plant itself typically grows as a shrub, reaching various heights depending on environmental conditions. It flourishes in well-drained soil and can often be found in gardens and greenhouses around the world, appreciated for its decorative value.

In its native habitat, the Jerusalem-cherry plays a role in the diverse ecosystem, although it is also cultivated and naturalized in other parts of the world. Gardeners often value it for the aesthetic charm it brings to ornamental displays, particularly when its vibrant fruits create a striking contrast against the green leaves.

While the Jerusalem-cherry adds beauty to any setting, care should be taken due to its toxic properties, especially in households with children or pets. Understanding and respecting its origins and botanical characteristics allows for safer and more responsible cultivation of this captivating plant.

Common Names

Eng: jerusalem cherry, jerusalem-cherry, madeira winter-cherry, madeira-cherry, false jerusalem-cherry, false capsicum, winter-cherries, winter-cherry
Dan: jerusalem-natskygge, koralbær
Afr: jerusalemkersie
Deu: jerusalemkirsche, korallenstrauch, falsche jerusalemkirsche
Fra: morelle
Por: berradura, erva-de-santa-maria, gingeira-do-brasil, laranjinha-do-mato, peloteira, pimenteira-brava
Swe: korallbär
Ces: lilek višňový
Nld: oranjeboompje
En: Jerusalem-cherry, Madeira winter-cherry, Madeira-cherry, False Jerusalem-cherry, False capsicum, Winter-cherries, Winter-cherry, Jerusalem cherry, Madeira Winter Cherry, Winter Cherry, Jerusalem-cherry nightshade, False Jerusalem cherry
Af: Jerusalemkersie, Winterkersie
Zh: 玉珊瑚, 珊瑚樱, 珊瑚櫻
Cs: Lilek višňový
Da: Jerusalem-natskygge, Koralbær
Nl: Oranjeboompje
Fi: Huonekoiso
Fr: Pommier d’amour, Cerisier d’amour, Morelle
De: Jerusalemkirsche, Korallenstrauch, Falsche Jerusalemkirsche
El: Κεράσι της Ιερουσαλήμ
Is: Jerúsalemskirsuber
Lt: Koralinė kiauliauogė
Pl: Psianka koralowa
Pt: Laranjinha-do-mato, Peloteira, Berradura, Erva-de-santa-maria, Gingeira-do-brasil, Pimenteira-brava
Ru: Паслён ложноперечный
Es: Cereza de Jerusalén, Cereza de Madeira
Sv: Korallbär
Zh-tw: 珊瑚櫻
Zh-hant: 珊瑚櫻
Uk: Паслін псевдоперцевий

Synonyms

• Solanum diphyllum (Forssk.)
• Solanum microcarpum (Vahl)
• Solanum karstenii (Dunal)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum var. normale (Kuntze)
• Solanum linkianum (Roem. & Schult.)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum var. luteum (Poir.)
• Solanum hendersonii (Neubert)
• Solanum ipecacuanha (Chodat)
• Solanum hermannioides (Schinz)
• Solanum capsicastrum (Link ex Schauer)
• Solanum compactum (Anon.)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum var. typicum (Hassl.)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum f. calvescens (Hassl.)
• Solanum ipecachuana var. calvescens (Chodat)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum var. microcarpum (Pers.)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum pilosum (Kuntze)
• Solanum diphyllum var. pulverulentum (Chodat)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum var. diflorum ((Vell.) Bitter)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum var. hygrophilum (Hassl.)
• Solanum plurifurcipilum (Bitter)
• Solanum diflorum var. angustifolium (Kuntze)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum var. parvifolium (Kuntze)
• Solanum capsicastrum var. caaguazuense (Chodat)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum subsp. diflorum ((Vell.) Hassl.)
• Pseudocapsicum undulatum (Moench)
• Solanum dunnianum (H.Lév.)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum var. lancifolium (Moench)
• Solanum diflorum (Vell.)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum var. sendtnerianum (Hassl.)
• Solanum ipecachuana var. obovata (Chodat)
• Solanum mexiae (Standl.)
• Solanum hygrophilum (Schltdl.)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum f. pilosulum (Hassl.)
• Solanum eremanthum (Dunal)
• Solanum ipecachuana (Chodat)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum var. ambiguum (Hassl.)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum f. pilulosum (Hassl.)
• Solanum hyemale (Salisb.)
• Solanum ipecacuanha var. calvescens (Chodat)
• Solanum jaliscanum (Greenm.)
• Solanum ulmoides (Dunal)
• Solanum diflorum var. pulverulentum (Chodat)
• Solanum tucumanense (Griseb.)
• Solanum diflorum var. hygrophilum (Kuntze)
• Solanum montevidense (Spreng.)
• Solanum pseudocapsicum f. microcarpum ((Pers.) Hassl.)
• Solanum validum (Rusby)
• Solanum capsicastrum variegatum (J.J.Veitch)
• Solanum singuliflorum (Steud.)
• Solanum ipecacuanha var. obovata (Chodat)

Distribution

• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Argentina South (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Chile Central (native)
• Chile North (native)
• Juan Fernández Is. (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Iran (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Kriti (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Caucasus (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Tibet (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Turkey (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Fruit

Taken Aug 15, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2017 by Alf Alfredo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 22, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 22, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 15, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 22, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 22, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 22, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Nov 23, 2021 by Silva Kobal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 11, 2020 by Marie Therese Mourot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Oct 25, 2022 by Fozame (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 21, 2020 by Matteo Palazzi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 21, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 23, 2021 by Marine Litou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 3, 2019 by Pierre Sosson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 5, 2020 by Aranda Sebastian (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 8, 2021 by Manu_ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 17, 2020 by Simon Spiller (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 19, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Stéphanie GARBARINO (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 31, 2019 by crikes (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 8, 2021 by petra suess (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 14, 2020 by Luiz Henrique Luiz Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 19, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:316948-2)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2931104)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Solanum pseudocapsicum L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Subshrub, Shrub

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 7.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 4

Soil nutriments: 6