Withania somnifera is a small shrub or herb grown as an annual in zones colder than 8 but in its native habitat it grows as a ground covering perennial. The native habitats include open and disturbed areas. It plays a similar role as ginseng in China, leading to one of its common names, Indian Ginseng. It does well in pots and can be grown from seed planting them 2 centimeters deep once the air temperature is above 70 degrees F. Place them in an area of your garden that gets full sun and has good draining, slightly alkaline sandy soil. Water the plant only when the soil drys out as it does not like wet feet. When grown from seed, it will flower and fruit in its first year. In cooler climates it will need to be brought indoors. Short, fine, silver/gray branched hairs cover most of the plant. Its alternate leaves are opposite the flowering shoots. The leaves as well as the roots have a distinct odor. The roots have a strong smell which as been described as having the odor of green tomatoes. The leaves can smell similar to a horses sweat. They are also used to produce an insect repellent. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: If eaten, this plant is toxic. It can cause dependence and decrease effectiveness of immunosuppressant drugs. Stem and root rot can effect this plant. It cannot grow in the shade.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are simple, ovate, with entire margins that can sometimes be wavy. They are said to smell of horse sweat. The upper side of the leaves is nearly hairless, while the underside is densely hairy. There is a central vein on the leaves, the sides of the leaf fold in slightly towards the center. The leaves have a downy covering of tiny hairs, giving the leaves a gray sheen.
Flower color
Green
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers are inconspicuous and appear at the leaf nodes on short stalks. The flowers are pale green and are held in a olive green clayx that surrounds the berry when the flower falls away.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Green; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The poisonous fruits are a hairless spherical berry. They start out green and mature to orange/red. The lantern-like pods contain pea-like red/orange fruits. As the berries ripen, the clayx surrounding it shrivels. At that time, the red berries can be seen.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
The erect stems are covered with tiny hairs, giving it a gray sheen.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, China, Africa to Sri Lanka
Wildlife value
Bees, birds, and butterflies frequent this plant.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Flowers; Roots; Seeds
Harvest time
Winter
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
Roots are medicinal, harvest when flowers and fruits form and leaves start to dry out. Fruits can also be eaten but remove seeds first, this is best achieved by drying the fruits and crushing them.
Uses (ethnobotany)
An herb used in Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen and nerve tonic.