SafePlants

Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana)

Enchanter's nightshade, with its delicate white flowers and unassuming foliage, often surprises observers with its creeping and persistent growth habit.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant produces clingy seeds that can easily attach to fur.

Considerations for Children

• This plant produces clingy seeds that can easily attach to clothing.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Circaea lutetiana
• Common Names: Enchanter's Nightshade, Broadleaf Enchanter's Nightshade, Broadleaved Enchanter's Nightshade, Canada Enchanter's Nightshade, Yellowish Enchanter's Nightshade, Sorcerer of Paris, Witch's Grass, Great Witch Herb, Wood magic herb, Paris nightshade, Herb of St Etienne, St Stephen's
• Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose or Willowherb family)
• Genus: Circaea (contains 7-10 species)
• Synonyms: Mentioned as being unrelated to Ciracea alpina.

Distribution and Habitat

• Enchanter's Nightshade is found throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere.
• It is a woodland plant, often found in damp, semi-shaded habitats.
• It is widespread throughout the British Isles, reaching as far north as central Scotland.

Morphological Characteristics

• It is a short to medium, somewhat hairy perennial plant, growing up to 60cm.
• It has long, slender stolons.
• The leaves are opposite and the plant may have scattered white hairs along the stem.
• The flowers are white or pinkish, small (4 to 7 mm or 4-8mm), and arranged in lax racemes with open flowers. Each flower has 2 petals notched at the tip.
• It is a rhizomatous, carpet-forming herb.

Ecological Role

• The plant has a creeping habit.
• The seeds are clingy and quickly dispersed.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Tenthredo colon eats Common Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana).
• The fruits of small enchanter's-nightshade, a tiny plant of damp forest understory, are burrs that can be transported on clothing.

Quirky Facts

• The genus name Circaea is derived from Circe, the enchantress in Greek mythology.

Further Information

• Down Garden Services provides information on Enchanter's Nightshade and how to treat it.
• APHOTOFLORA has photographic stock library pages for Circaea lutetiana.