Seattle’s damp climate makes it the perfect breeding ground for invasive vines. One of the most common (and most dangerous) is bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara). This plant may look pretty with its purple flowers and bright red berries, but it’s highly toxic and can quickly take over fences, garden beds, and wetlands.
At Lee’s General Landscaping, we specialize in identifying and removing invasive weeds like bittersweet nightshade to protect your property and keep your yard safe.
How to Identify Bittersweet Nightshade
- Growth habit: A perennial vine that climbs through shrubs, fences, and trees, often reaching 6–10 feet long.
- Leaves: Arrow-shaped, sometimes with small lobes at the base.
- Flowers: Small, purple, star-shaped flowers with yellow centers, blooming late spring to summer.
- Berries: Bright green when young, turning shiny red in clusters — attractive to birds, but toxic to pets and people.
- Habitat: Thrives in moist soil, along fences, garden edges, and wetlands.
Why Bittersweet Nightshade Is a Problem
- Toxicity: All parts of the plant (especially berries) are poisonous to humans, dogs, cats, and livestock if eaten.
- Aggressive spread: Birds eat and spread the seeds, while underground roots send out new shoots.
- Smothers plants: Vines climb and choke ornamentals, hedges, and even trees.
- Difficult to control: Cutting it back only encourages regrowth from roots.
How We Remove Bittersweet Nightshade
Because this vine spreads both above and below ground, removal requires persistence and the right tools.
- Hand Pulling and Root Removal
- Our crew digs out entire root systems to prevent regrowth.
- Protective gear is used to avoid skin contact and exposure.
- Cutting and Haul-Away
- Mature vines are carefully cut back, bagged, and hauled off-site.
- Leaving vines or berries on-site risks re-sprouting and spreading.
- Mulch and Suppression
- After removal, we recommend mulching or replanting with groundcover to reduce opportunities for nightshade to re-establish.
- Ongoing Monitoring
- Because nightshade spreads easily via birds, we suggest seasonal check-ups to spot and remove new seedlings early.
Long-Term Control
- Never compost nightshade waste — the roots and seeds survive.
- Regularly inspect fence lines, hedges, and damp soil where vines love to hide.
- Keep beds mulched — healthy, covered soil makes it harder for seedlings to sprout.
- Remove early — seedlings are much easier to dig out than mature vines.
Professional Bittersweet Nightshade Removal in Seattle
DIY cutting may make nightshade look gone for a few weeks, but the underground roots almost always send it right back. Professional help ensures safe removal and prevents spreading.
At Lee’s General Landscaping, our service includes:
- Careful identification and safe handling
- Root-level removal with commercial tools
- Full haul-away and disposal of toxic plant material
- Mulch installation to suppress regrowth
- Seasonal monitoring plans to keep your yard clear
✅ If you’ve spotted purple flowers or clusters of red berries in your yard, don’t wait — bittersweet nightshade spreads quickly and poses a safety risk. Call Lee’s General Landscaping for professional nightshade removal in Seattle, and let us help you reclaim your yard.
