Name: Donna King Selmer, TN (Southern West TN) (Zone 7b)
Does anyone know what this plant is? Aunt Elsie always called them Jeuresulem Cherries, and always grew them. Momma got them from her and grew them, we have just kept them going for their beauty. Don't think it is a pepper, though I have never tasted or attempted to eat one. The plant has been in our family as long as I can remember and is pretty hardy here in zone 7. I have a plant that has come back for 10-15 years. It's seeds do look like pepper seeds, though we have always believed the fruits to be poisonous. The leaves are deep green and aromatic, blossoms white with an orange/red eye. The fruits are bright orange and dime size. Perfectly round. It looks for all the world like a tiny orange tree.
A pretty little ornamental and it looks like Jerusalem Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum) to me too. I don't see any growing information in our database for this pretty little plant but there are a couple of photos for comparison.
I'm not certain if it's true or not but I've heard that the "cherries" are poisonous so one should beware with the plant around children and pets it the fruit does have any toxic qualities.
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Name: Donna King Selmer, TN (Southern West TN) (Zone 7b)
Thank you Plantladylin! This is my plant! And Momma & Aunt Elsie were right, this says they are poison! They are really beautiful and easily reseed, but my same plants put back up also. I pull them up by hands ful every spring.
A number of sites list Solanum pseudocapsicum as being a danger to small children and pets. It causes serious gastric distress, drooling, vomiting.etc.
Name: Donna King Selmer, TN (Southern West TN) (Zone 7b)
Thank you Moonhowel. Our dogs have never bothered it, but I will certainly caution the Grands, as I did my child and as I was growing up. It has always been grown in this family. We have always watched and cautioned.
