PlantFiles: Blue Potato Bush, Paraguay Nightshade, Blue Lycianthes
Lycianthes rantonnetii

I put this bush in my landscape two years ago and it was very leggy and sparse the first year. Last winter we had two weeks of very cold weather which nipped it back to a stump and this seems to be just what it needed. In the last month it has shot up quickly and has several blooms, although these are only around the bottom six inches of the bush. I read a note that said that it is poisonous, but that doesn't keep the rabbits from chowing down.

I am looking to relocate my potato bush and was wondering if anyone had done this and had success

Just bought the "bush." However, mine has been trimmed to resemble a tree. Is not in bloom, but I got it for only $5 at Lowe's on discount. Since I am in zone 5, I am confident it will not survive outside. I was planning on having it as an indoor plant. Will this work?

I was visiting a friend and saw the most amazing specimen of this rather ordinary plant. Looks like it has actually grown into a substantial tree! I will try to take a picture of it next time I'm in the area. Imagine it must be at least several decades old, this suburb is only about 40 or 50 yrs old at most. It had very handsome, rugged dark bark and was in full bloom, in a sunny site in San Pablo (Northern CA, East Bay/San Francisco Bay Area), CA.

The brilliant purple-ish flowers are lovely and very eye-catching. Blooms almost year-round, though only a smattering of flowers during the coldest months of the year (zone 9b).

When considering this plant for the garden, keep in mind that once established outside, it grows remarkably quickly during spring-summer-fall and can become unruly in no time at all. You will need to be aggressive with pruning. Growth stalls immediately after first cold snap and restarts as days get warmer. Mine has attracted clouds of tiny, white, aphid-like insects in summer months.

The Blue Potato Bush has performed excellent for me this year as a container grown plant.. It has bloomed continuously from spring thru summer with dozens of beautiful blooms. Since it is not supposedly winter hardy in my USDA zone 7, I will over-winter it inside.

Prefers full sun. Grows quickly. In severe cold leaves drop and branch tips may die back. Prune to keep neat. Can be used in tailored landscape areas.

This tropical shrub can be grown as a large container speciman. In summer and autumn it bears clusters of 1-inch dark blue to violet-purple flowers with yellow centers. Winter in a cool location and leave almost dry. In late March bring into brighter light and begin to water at regular intervals.

This is a member of the nightshade family and all parts of the plant are toxic. Flowers are followed by red berries so beware of small children that may be tempted to taste them.