Apple-of-Peru, Shoo-Fly Plant

Nicandra physalodes (L.) Scop.

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

▲ ▼ seedlings

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ grooved stem

▲ hollow stems

▲ young plant

▲ ▼ flowers

▲ leaf underside

▲ apple-of-peru in soybean field in Illinois

Apple-of-Peru, Shoo-Fly Plant: 

o        a summer annual plant that can grow 1-6’ tall; resistant to weed control in Round-Up ready cropping systems

o        has medium, light green leaves with teeth/lobes on edge

o        stem is hollow with pronounced vertical ribs

o        flowers are cup-shaped, usually sky-blue with a white center—showy

o        fruit is enclosed in papery capsule and has many, many seeds inside

o        is an escaped cultivated plant that is causing concern in Ohio, Illinois in soybean production

o        fermented plant tissue supposedly repels flies—hence “shoo-fly” name