How to Plant & Care for a Blue Potato Bush

Overview

The blue potato bush (Solanum rantonnetii), also known as Paraguay nightshade, is a shrub native to both Brazil and Paraguay. This plant develops bluish-purple blooms with yellow middles during summer and continues to flower into fall. The blue potato bush can grow up to 8 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter. It is hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11 and can survive temperature dips as low as 23 degrees F.

Step 1

Prepare a planting location by pulling all grass and weeds and removing any large rocks. Dig a hole that is slightly larger and the same depth as the pot that the blue potato bush is growing in. Mix 3 inches of organic compost with the turned soil to add nutrients.

Step 2

Place the root ball into the hole and replace the soil. Tamp down firmly to remove air pockets and water until the soil is well-moistened.

Step 3

Water whenever the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Feed the bush once a month with a water-soluble fertilizer mixed according to package directions.

Step 4

Prune the bush in early spring to remove damaged limbs and to keep growth in check.