Sun or shade. This highly variable plant can be found growing under and inside just about anything, equally at home in landscape beds, lawns, fence lines and woodlands. The tiny tomato-like fruits are not tasty, but the flowers are highly fragrant. Given a chain link fence to climb on, this local specialty can climb up to 7 feet or more, and the flowers and fruits can appear in both winter and summer.
The stems have ridges making them distinctly three cornered to the touch. The flowers are small and star-shaped, with white or violet-tinged flowers; they are strongly fragrant.
None needed; with support this nightshade can scramble upward enough to drape a chain-link fence or nearby plants. Stems break off easily, leaving the roots in place; it can be a persistent weed in landscape beds.
A wild nightshade common on local fencelines and flowerbeds.