Soanum capsicoides (Devils apple)

Ruth starts with ...
I am searching for a rootstock or cutting of a Solanum Capsicoides also known as Devil's Apple and as Cockroach Berry.

I read in an old Gardening Australia magazine, that we can create our own eggplant tree, by grafting an eggplant scion into a solanum capsicoides rootstock.
I am having difficulty in locating a solanum capsicoides plant and I will appreciate if you can help me to find one.

Myllika says...
Ruth you and I must of read the same book I am also loking for cockroach berry plant/cutting have you been successful what about Kath's suggestion is it feasable.

Ellen says...
Wow, so this is edible too, I digged up this tree in my back yard, but part of the root system went over to my neighbor side, it is still kept popping up to my side now and again.

Ruth says...
Hi Myllika, No I haven't got any of those plants, but here in NSW we have the kangaroo apple which is also a solanos family and I was given a few plants, so i am going to try with them. Kangaroo apple fruit is used as an abortive by the aboriginees, and I was concerned if the fruit of an eggplant grafted into a kangaroo apple would also be an abortive. Now as you can see from Phil's reply, a poisonous fruit plant can be used as rootstock.

Myllika says...
Hi Ruth also Phil as I am not in the East coast area can either of you explain these plants and how high they are I think it looks like the Kampurara ( bush tomatoe/raisin) that grows in the north of SA but that is a small knee high plant, as for the kangartoo apple do you have a photo/discription of it I have some Indigenous plants in my yard I think it is of the solanum family certainly looks like

Ellen says...
Ruth

the 1st picture posted up by Phil, that was the 2 plants I had in my backyard, but I've chopped them both down already, but both of them still have roots left behind as it creeped over to the neighbor side. So now and again it would spring up back over to my side of the land.
If that is the plant you need, then perhaps I might be able to help you out, next one coming back up I'll save it for you. Email me on emmanuel19972000@yahoo.com

Phil says...
ok, there is no real reason it shouldn't work with a kangaroo apple.
I read about an American couple who grafted their tomato plants onto Datura (Angels Trumpet, Brugmansia) and grew poisoned tomatoes - the solanacea family is full of surprises. It includes some very useful plants such as potatoes, pepinos, capsicums and the like but can be deadly if you misidentify anything. Take care.

Myllika says...
Hi Ruth how did you go trying the Kangaroo Apple as a root stock for eggplant did you try like you said you were going to? was it successful? any down sides to using the K apple such as toxic? or is it ok? cheers love to know how it went

Ruth says...
Hi Myllika I haven't try it yet as I need to have the plant well established in my garden and also I had overseas guest for the last 5 weeks, so now I am back to my garden, but I bought a tamarillo tree and I feel more comfortable if that work although it may not be as hardy as a native, I 'll how it goes.

Ruth says...
Thank you Myllika, I will do the budding this week

Ruth says...
Hi Paul, Please clarify if your devil's apple plants are different to the Wild Tobacco Tree (solanum mauritianum)? I am a bit confused as the wild tobacco tree looks identical to the devil's apple plant shown in the picture that Phil posted earlier.
The Wild Tobacco plants I got, have small little leaves at the base of the stem of the big leaves and if I crush the leaves they smell like oil (petrol oil).
Please confirm your Devil's Apple seed come from a plant that is different to the Wild Tobacco Tree and maybe you can point to the diference between these two plants.
Thanks, Ruth