Enchanter’s Nightshade Flowers

Enchanter’s nightshade is a hairy plant and a member of the willowherb family. It can be found in woodlands, hedgerows, gardens, and even at the foot of old walls. 

It especially likes heavy, rich soils. It bears loose clusters of tiny, pinky-white flowers from June to August. 

Despite its rather grand name, the plant itself is somewhat modest: low-growing, green, thin-leaved, and small-flowered. The flower lacks nectar, so it doesn’t attract many insects: the pollen is often released while the flower is still a bud, so it falls on its own stigmas. It produces a one-seeded, oval-shaped, dry fruit.