A tender, evergreen shrub to 1.2m, with lobed, grey-green leaves bearing bright orange spines along the midrib. The fuzzy stems are also armed with sharp spines. In summer, star-shaped purple flowers are borne in small clusters; these are followed by inedible, cherry tomato-like fruits. Grow as a summer annual or conservatory plant
1-1.5 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Under glass, grow in pots of peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light. Water freely during growth and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks. Outdoors, plant out after the last frosts into pots of loam-based potting compost, or into any well-drained garden soil in a sheltered position in full sun. Overwinter in a frost-free green house or raise annually from seed
Propagate by seed
Plants grown under glass may require restrictive pruning, see pruning group 9
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)