Horse Nettle

Scirpus atrovirens

Horse Nettle image

Horse nettle is a native plant, also known as bull nettle, nightshade, sand brier and tread-softly. The plant reaches a height of 1 to 3 feet. The flowers of the horse nettle are are star-shaped with five usually white petals and a yellow center, but may also be blue or lavender and blooms from May to October. The plant is toxic and the spines can be painful if the plant is handled carelessly.The fruit is a berry, green when immature, turning yellow and wrinkled with maturity. The mature yellow fruits are eaten, to a limited extent, by pheasant, quail, turkey, skunk and possibly small rodents. The Cherokee would use crushed Carolina horse-nettle leaves in milk to kill flies.