Sativa - Deadly Nightshade – Seeds

• Important safety note: The entire plant is highly poisonous in all its parts – from the root to the berry. Consuming the cherry-like fruits can be life-threatening. It should not be grown in gardens with children or pets.
• Historical significance: Its name ‘Belladonna’ (Italian for ‘beautiful woman’) stems from the fact that women used to drip the juice into their eyes to dilate their pupils – a dangerous beauty ideal.
• Ecological value: Despite its toxicity, it is an important food plant for specialised insect species.

Cultivation & Location

Belladonna is a woodland plant and prefers corresponding conditions:

• Location: Thrives particularly well in shady to semi-shady positions. It loves calcareous, nutrient-rich and humus-rich soils.
• Growth: It grows bushy and reaches an impressive height of up to 1.5 metres.
• Cultivation: Sowing takes place from April onwards. As it is a cold-germinator, a cool period can promote germination.

Key planting information

• Botanical name: Atropa belladonna
• Lifespan: Perennial
• Sowing depth: 0–0.5 cm (shallow germinator)
• Spacing within the row: 50 cm
• Spacing between rows: 80 cm
• Uses: Wild botanical plant, medicinal plant (for pharmaceutical purposes only)

Special features in the garden

• Appearance: The black berries sit in a star-shaped calyx and look very decorative, which often masks their danger.
• Care: Once established, the plant is very hardy and sprouts anew each year from its vigorous rootstock.
• Safety: When handling the plant (e.g. pruning), it is recommended to wear gloves to avoid skin contact with the plant sap.