PlantFiles: Tropical Soda Apple
Solanum viarum

Tropical Soda Apple Solanum viarum is naturalized in Texas and other States and is considered an invasive noxious plant in Texas.

U.S. FEDERALLY LISTED NOXIOUS WEED.
Not allowed for import to the US and not allowed in any interstate or intrastate transportation without a specific permit from USDA APHIS PPQ (Plant Protection and Quarantine).
No one should be selling/growing this plant in the U.S.

I grow this as a houseplant/bonsai in my area. I purchased seeds from a seedsman company in LaHonda Cal. Lots of people find the plant exotic with the thorns & yellow fruit. Easy to care for plant..

I had a friend come up from FL & I was showing this person my bonsai collection. When she saw this plant she started laughing & said this bonsai is nothing but a common weed in FL. Looking at the feedback on this plant, I see its a terrible weed down south. I guess that would explain why this is such an EZ bonsai.

I wouldn't say it is a "success" in my garden, although it grows plenty well enough even with my constant cutting, pulling, trimming, dousing with chemicals... LOL. This is a major weed, and the only way to get rid of it is to keep constantly on top of any new growth.... and this may take several years. This plant "attacks" and causes an itchy skin irritation. My father grabbed a plant by mistake and his hand was completely covered with redness and swelling for the rest of the day and into the next! BE CAREFUL!!

Very invasive

This is a major pest plant in the southern US. It has been found to form monocultures in areas where it is left unchecked. This plant bears small round fruits that turn yellow at maturity. Seeds germinate at a rate of about 95%.