Japanese name: ツルハナナス（蔓花茄子） Scientific name:Solanum jasminoides
[Overview]
An evergreen woody climber.
The stems have no thorns, branch well from the base, and grow to about 2 m.
The leaves are alternate, ovate to elliptic, 3–5 cm long and 1.5–2.5 cm wide, and those on the lower part of the stem may be 2–5-lobed.
The upper surface of the leaves is glossy and the margins are entire.
About 20 flowers are borne in a cyme.
The corolla is 2.5 cm across and star-shaped with 5 lobes; it is white at first, then changes to blue to pale purple.
The fruit is spherical, 0.8 cm across, and ripens to deep blue to black.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
It can overwinter outdoors in regions without frost.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, fertile soil.
Rainfall is sufficient for watering unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil becomes severely dry.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
