Solanum quitoense (Naranjillo)

Botanical name

Solanum quitoense

Other names

Naranjillo, Lulo, Quito orange, Golden fruit of the Andes, Bed of nails , Solanum angulatum

Genus

Solanum Solanum

Species

S. quitoense - S. quitoense is a tender yet vigorous, upright, wide- spreading, evergreen shrub with spiny stems bearing large, oblong to ovate, woolly, purple-veined, grey-green leaves, spiny in the wild, usually spineless in cultivated varieties. Clusters of fragrant, white pale purple flowers are followed by edible, hairy, yellow-orange fruit with translucent green or yellow flesh. May bear fruit year-round if grown under glass.

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Upright, Spreading

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Colour

Flower

White, Pale-purple in All seasons

Foliage

Grey-green in All seasons

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Scale insects , Root knot eelworm , Red spider mite (box and other) , Aphids

Specific diseases

Tomato spotted wilt , Grey mould

General care

Pruning

Harvest when fruit easily and naturally separates from the stem. May be fruit year-round under glass. Plants that bear fruit regularly may be short-lived. Overwinter indoors or treat as an annual bedding plant, discarding after the growing season ends.

Propagation

Sow seed under glass in late spring. Transplant seedlings into 7.5cm pots. Move outdoors once danger of frost has passed.

Propagation methods

Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Solanum quitoense (Naranjillo) will reach a height of 1.8m and a spread of 1.8m after 1-2 years.

Suggested uses

Add to salads, Beds and borders, Flavouring food and drinks, Greenhouse

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light with shade from hot sun in moderate to high humidity. Mist daily, feed every 2-3 weeks, & water regularly. Outdoors in frost-free areas, grow in moderately fertile, neutral to alkaline soil in sun.

Soil type

Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Solanum quitoense (Naranjillo)

Common pest name

Cassava whitefly; Cotton whitefly; Sweet potato whitefly; Tobacco whitefly

Scientific pest name

Bemisia tabaci non-European populations

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Non-European populations of Bemisia tabaci pose an additional risk to European populations due to the potential for introducing non-European viruses.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Solanum quitoense (Naranjillo)

Common pest name

Apple root knot nematode

Scientific pest name

Meloidogyne mali

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Unknown

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

UK (along with certain other European countries) received potentially infested trees in 1992; but these were destroyed at the end of the trial period and targeted surveillance has failed to find any trace of the nematode. Main impacts are on elm; apple and mulberry and industry should source such material carefully.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Solanum quitoense (Naranjillo)

Common pest name

; Black wood of grapevine; Female sterility of tobacco; Fruit woodiness of tomato; Maize Redness; Mal azul of tomato; Metabolbur; Metastolbur; Parastolbur; Purple top of potato; Stolbur of potato; Stolbur of tobacco; Stolbur of tomato

Scientific pest name

Candidatus Phytoplasma solani

Type

Phytoplasma

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Phytoplasma which potentially affects a wide host range; determined by the feeding behaviour of vectors. First UK outbreak in 2014; on strawberry; a host not specifically regulated in EU legislation. This legislation should be reviewed to take account of this and other developments.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/