Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) Plant

Description Atropa belladonna, commonly known as deadly nightshade, is a highly poisonous plant belonging to the Solanaceae (nightshade) family. It has a long history of use in medicine, cosmetics, and even poisonings. Deadly Nightshade is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows up to 1.5 metres tall. It has broad, dark green, and oval-shaped leaves. The flowers are bell-shaped, purple-brown, and about 2–3 cm long. Atropa belladonna produces shiny black berries that are highly toxic, the plant root is also highly toxic Warning – This species contains alkaloids like atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, which affect the nervous system. Symptoms of poisoning include dry mouth, dilated pupils, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, hallucinations, and confusion. In severe cases, it has caused convulsions, coma, and even death. Just a few berries can be fatal to children. Historically, Deadly Nightshade has been used as a poison in assassinations e.g., by the Romans and in medieval Europe. During the Renaissance, Italian women used belladonna extract to dilate their pupils, making their eyes appear more attractive, hence the name “belladonna,” meaning “beautiful lady” in Italian.   Specifications. 50mm Pot Size Seed Grown Plant   Ideal Growing Conditions. Atropa belladonna prefers a temperate climate, it does not tolerate extreme heat or cold temperatures. Best to position in partial shade or dappled sunlight using a rich, well-draining soil with high organic matter. Pruning: Atropa belladonna is a herbaceous perennial that dies back in cold weather and regrows in spring. Remove dead or yellowing leaves during the growing season. After flowering and fruiting, or once frost blackens the foliage, cut stems back to near ground level. Pests and Diseases: Atropa belladonna can be prone to pests. Occasionally, you may see sap-sucking insects, like aphids, spider mites, or caterpillars, which can be controlled with insecticidal soap, Eco Oil or Neem Oil Soil: You need a high quality potting mix, not a pre-bagged product such as you find at Bunnings etc, try a landscaping place. However, as I am not local to you I still can’t say if they have good quality or not. You are looking for well composted pine bark and large particles. This ensures air flow to the roots and good drainage. When time to re-pot, select a pot one size up ONLY and ensure it has many holes for good drainage. Fertiliser: We recommend and use Yates Nutricote Standard Black 270 Day Controlled Release Fertiliser however any good quality slow release fertiliser will do. We also stock an Australian Made liquid indoor fertiliser The Plant Runner Indoor Plant Food which is easy to use and odourless     We cannot send plants to Western Australia & Tasmania due to restrictions.   We cannot ship this species Internationally.   We strongly recommended to select Express Post shipping for all plant orders to minimise the transit time.   Interested in this product? Have a look at these  Peganum harmala (Syrian Rue) 1g Seed Grafted Psychotria viridis ‘Luna’ (Chacruna) Plant Psychotria viridis cv. Shipibo (Chacruna) Plant