Information About Apple of Peru

Apple of Peru (shoofly plant to some) is a half hardy perennial that's usually grown as an annual in USDA zones 3 through 8. It can reach five feet (2 m.) in height by the end of the summer, and blooms for two to three months during the summer. It produces light purple to blue flowers that grow in a bell shape.

Is Apple Peru poisonous?
How is Apple of Peru controlled?
Is Apple of Peru invasive?
How do Apple grow in Peru?
Is Apple of Peru an annual?
Why is it called Shoo-Fly Plant?
How do you grow nicandra Physalodes?
What does a shoo fly plant look like?
Is nicandra poisonous?
When should I plant nicandra seeds?

Is Apple Peru poisonous?

Apple-of-Peru is a plant native to Peru, and is grown in the UK as an ornamental, from which it can escape into the wild. It is the only member in the Genus Nicandra and, according to some, is highly toxic. ... The seeds are regarded as more toxic than the other parts of the plant.

How is Apple of Peru controlled?

Light tillage, hoeing or cutting can effectively control small plants. Many herbicides are available for use on this plant.

Is Apple of Peru invasive?

apple-of-Peru: Nicandra physalodes (Solanales: Solanaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn. This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.

How do Apple grow in Peru?

The seeds of Apple of Peru can be sown outside either in late autumn or before the last frost of spring; once sown cover the apple of peru seeds lightly with soil. It is best to grow Apple of Peru in a rich soil, in either a partially shaded or sunny part of the garden that has good drainage.

Is Apple of Peru an annual?

Shoo-Fly Plant – Apple of Peru – Nicandra physalodes is an annual that is a vigorous self seeder. An interesting annual plant to grow in the garden. Beautiful, bell shaped, pale violet flowers followed by particularly unusual globular fruits that you can dry for Winter decoration.

Why is it called Shoo-Fly Plant?

The leaves are dark green with a deeply toothed margin. The musky odor of the flower is said to repel whiteflies and sometimes other insects, hence the name shoofly plant, but the reputation is certainly overstated, as I've seen colonies of whiteflies apparently thriving underneath a shoofly plant leaf.

How do you grow nicandra Physalodes?

Customer Review - Nicandra physalodes

Germination Instructions. Sow indoors. Sow 1mm deep into moist well-drained seed compost. Ideal temp. ...
Growing Instructions. Requires little attention. Do not allow the soil to dry out. ...
Cultivation Instructions. Will self-seed freely, deadhead to avoid self-seeding.

What does a shoo fly plant look like?

The shoo-fly plant has bell-shaped flowers that are most commonly pale blue and white, but there are also forms with violet flowers and with white flowers. ... Flowers appear from June to October. Cherry-like, green-brown berries are encased within green or black-mottled calyces.

Is nicandra poisonous?

Toxicity. Poisonous substances found in Datura are tropane alkaloids (atropine, hyoscine, and scopolamine) and hyoscyamine in all parts of the plant, particular in the seeds. The foliage may contain as much as 0.25%–0.7% alkaloids. The seeds are likely to be the source of toxicity for pets.

When should I plant nicandra seeds?

Sow undercover in mid-spring. Sow thinly in trays of seed compost, cover seeds lightly.