During mid- to late summer the berries of the nightshade plant begin to turn red, an attractive feature to small children. The nightshade is a poisonous plant that is fairly common in Montana, and it is often found in yards and around the edges of garden areas. The plant is a perennial, meaning it lives for several years, and is vinelike with climbing or trailing stems up to 10 feet long. It has star-shaped purple flowers with five petals that turn backward and a yellow center. The blossoms are about one inch in diameter. Berries are formed that look like small tomatoes, first green, then orange or red. Control of the nightshades can usually be achieved by hoeing or digging because usually only a few plants are present on a site. Try to remove as much of the root system as possible because the plant can produce new plants from buds found on the roots.
If herbicide applications are needed, an herbicide containing glyphosate, such as Roundup, is a good choice, if applied carefully. This herbicide is of low toxicity, both to humans and the environment when used as directed, but because of it's mode of action, it will kill all vegetation with which it comes in contact, including grass, ornamentals, and trees. So take care to apply it only on the plant you wish to kill. One good method is to mix the solution according to label directions, wearing rubber gloves and boots, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. Then place a cloth gardening glove over the top of the rubber glove and dip the cloth glove directly into the solution. You can then wipe several drops of the glyphosate solution directly on the plant.
References:
Written by Sherry Lajeunesse, Extension Urban Pest Management Specialist. Sept., 1997