When to prune Solanum dulcamara (Woody Nightshade)
BenDover
Posts: 488
Solanum dulcamara or Woody Nightshade has really taken off this year and now gone a bit rampant. It has flowered wonderfully, but now coming to the end, and I need to get control of it. It is planted up against a fence, but is not supported (other than by itself) but has managed to grow to to around 12 feet tall (fence is around 6 foot tall). I was thinking of taking the longest stems along the fence to reduce height, and then prune out the stems that stick out into the border. But when it the best time to do this? The flowers are turning into berries, so wondering if its best to leave it now and wait until autumn/winter or spring next year, however, I was wanting to get into tackling it now, as it is set behind (and growing into) a Kerria Japonica which has also flowered and I want to cut that back to encourage new growth for flowering. The mix of the colours from the yellow Kerria and the purple Solanum have been wonderful, but now paying for that! 
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Solanum dulcamara? I wouldn't have thought the flowers of that would make much of a show.
Would like to see a photo.
In the sticks near Peterborough
MINE ARE RATHER WEEDY SPECIMENS. PRETTY IN THEIR WAY BUT NOT DISPLAY PLANTS.
MAYBE I DON'T NURTURE THEM PROPERLY
In the sticks near Peterborough
Here you go...
Are you sure that's S. dulcamara? It looks more like S. crispum
Someone's pressed the bold type button on it
Last edited: 09 June 2016 20:23:17
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hi, I'll take your word for it - how would I know the difference if its dulcamara or crispum? I just remember somebody coming into my garden and saying, it was Woody Nightshade, which I looked up and got the latin name of S. dulcamara. Thought it was that ever since.
Solanum crispum, often the cultivar 'Glasnevin', is a popular, vigorous scrambling plant.
Solanum dulcamara, woody nightshade or bittersweet, is a rather weedy thing for me, less so
for pansyface. But hers isn't as bushy and large-flowered as yours.
S.dulcamara has a very strong smell, hard to describe but not very pleasant, in the leaves and
stems, noticeable as it passes through the shredder
I think you have S. crispum.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Ok, thanks Nutcutlet.
It can take a good hacking back
In the sticks near Peterborough
That's good - think it might need it. If I don't do the bit that's gone above and then over the fence, think my neighbour will.
They get enormous
In the sticks near Peterborough