Bush with purple "pods"

I stopped at a man selling plants today and he had these really cool looking plants planted in his yard. Without looking around at what he had for sale I asked if he had any for sale. He did. They stay in the ground all year and come back each year or so he says. The are a deep green with small slender leaves and the deepest purple little pods (looks like a decorative pepper plant but not red). Does anybodyknow what this is?

 

Re: Plant with purple pods

Some kind of Solanum ?

 

Probably a species of Solanum, and certainly in the family Solanaceae.

 

Decorative chilli?

 

Where can I find out more about this Solanum? What is the common name? At one time I had a plant sort ofl ike this that had red round berries on it. Berries were supposed to be poisonous. If I heard the name of it, I would know it.

 

Either Solanum pseudocapsicum or S. capsicastrum. I don't recollect these ever having purple berries, though.

 

If I could just find the name of the bush with the orange/red berries I would be happy. For the life of me I do not know what it was called. It was not a scientific name.

Also where can I find more info on the Solanum?

 

GOOGLE Solanum

I wonder if yrs is part of this branch of the famuily tree

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eggplant
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

http://asgap.org.au/s-eli.html

The Australian version is part of Aboriginal "Bush tucker"


Here's another member of family

http://www.ann.com.au/herbs/Monographs/solanum.htm

General info
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866688.htm

http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Solanum.html

Liz

 

Nightshade?

 

I agree with Nandan. Looks like an ornamental pepper to me (pepper in the American sense, known to others as capsicum) Capsicum annuum. They come in many colours, whitish, yellow, orange, red, purple, even black. I woludn't think they would come back though, unless from seeds.

 

For the plant with the orange/red berries...a couple common names to see if it rings any bells for you: Jerusalem Cherry & Firethorn. I do not know if the berries are poisonous.

 

Thank you. It is Jerusalem Cherry. I have been told the berries are poisonous. I would love to find another plant.

 

Do you know the common name of this plant other than purple pod plant? Sounds like something from a space movie.

 

They are frequently called Ornamental Peppers.
http://www.cherylsgardenparty.com/2005/Gallery/LucindaPeppers.htm

Your plant resembles 'Purple Delight'

HTH
Chris

 

I does look like Purple Delight. Is it ppoisonous to eat the purple "peppers"

 

Purple ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum) are edible but may not be as tasty as varieties developed for culinary purposes. Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum) is poisonous.

Here is a previous thread about Solanum pseudocapsicum:
http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=4398
and
Wikipedia