Pruning Potato Bush Trees - Knowledgebase Question

Aromas, CA
Avatar for BVB1029
Question by BVB1029
March 31, 2000
What is the best way to prune a potato bush tree to get a nice dense round ball?


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Answer from NGA
March 31, 2000
Solanum Rantonnetii 'Grandiflorum', the Blue Potato Bush, is probably what you're growing. It's sometimes classified as Lycianthes rantonnei, or Paraguay Nightshade. It's generally grown as a shrub but can be staked into a tree form. It's evergreen in mild winters, deciduous in colder areas. The bright green oval leaves are about 4" long and the plants is covered with violet blue, yellow-centered, one inch wide flowers throughout the warm months.

You can help the plant keep its shape by pruning lightly in the winter or early spring to encourage new flowering wood. Simply cut each twig or shoot back about one-third.


Avatar for Myflowergarden
A comment from Myflowergarden
July 18, 2019
My potato bush is at least 7 foot tall. I loves where it is planted. It really needs trimming and the temp is in the 90s so what do you suggest time wise for trimming?

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