Deadly Nightshade
Atropa belladonna
Height up to 1m
Branched perennial of scrub and open woods on calcareous soils. Locally common in S and E England but scarce or absent elsewhere. Leaves oval and pointed. The flowers are purplish and bell-shaped and appear June­August. Berries black and poisonous. Deadly Nightshade, while not actually seriously deadly, can cause poisoning, though not usually fatal, if eaten in large quantities. This plant is an import from England, but it is now widespread and common on the American landscape. The vine itself is attractive, the distinctive purple and yellow flowers can be spectacularly lovely in quantity, and the green berries which turn bright red later in the summer are extremely eye-catching. Because it has both berries and flowers almost all summer long, this plant is easy for almost anyone to recognize.