Are Blueberries a Nightshade Plant?

Taxonomy

• Blueberries are members of the Vaccinium genus, a group that also includes true huckleberries, lingonberries and cranberries. This genus is part of the Ericaceae, or heather family, along with azaleas and rhododendrons, in the order Ericales. The Ericales are a group of diverse trees, bushes, vines and herbs that contain not only blueberries, but also Brazil nuts and persimmons. Blueberries and nightshades are part of the Asteridae clade or subclass.

Similarities

• Many nightshade plants produce small, round berries with a dark purple skin that looks similar to that of a blueberry. For instance, bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) and garden huckleberry (Solanum nigrum var. melanocerasum) bear bluish-purple fruit that can be mistaken for blueberries. You can identify nightshades by their strong acrid odor and tendency to develop lobes on their leaves. Blueberry bushes have relatively little odor and produce smooth, pointed leaves. If your lawn or garden contain a plant that could be either blueberry or a nightshade, have it identified by a professional before eating any of the fruit.

Environmental Requirements

• Blueberries and members of the nightshade family do best in areas with full sun and plenty of water. They also require excellent drainage and do poorly in areas with heavy clay soils. Nightshades, like tomato plants, peppers, potatoes and eggplant, all prefer neutral to mildly acid soil, while blueberries do best with a lower pH. If you want to plant members of these two different genuses in the same location, consider keeping one in a raised bed or container with soil treated to provide the right conditions. Add sulfur to acidify the soil for growing blueberries or lime to raise the pH for nightshades.

Toxicity

• If your lawn and garden are accessible to pets or very small children, members of the nightshade family could be hazardous. Even edible nightshades, like the tomato, can be dangerous for dogs and cats. Remove these plants or restrict access to them to ensure the health of your pets and family members. Blueberries, by comparison, are nontoxic and can be safely eaten by animals and humans.