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Broadleaf Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea canadensis L.)

Also classified as Circaea lutetiana subsp. canadensis (L.) Asch. & Magnus, Circaea lutetiana var. canadensis L..

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Broadleaf Enchanter's Nightshade
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Range - Expand

LegendColor
Native
Native or Not Present

This tentative map is based on our own research. It may have limited data on Canada and/or Mexico, and there is some subjectivity in our assignment of plants as introduced vs. expanded. Read more in this blog post.

Habitat

Prefers rich soils in medium shade to dappled sunlight.

Found in deciduous woodlands. Adapts well to the presence of humans, and thrives in more forested suburbs. Often more abundant along paths, where it benefits both from increased light levels and the seeds sticking to people's clothing.

Uses

Uncommonly used as a landscaping plant, where it is sometimes used as a groundcover for shady areas. Although a fairly delicately-structured plant, able to persist and spread in beds of ivy and other aggressive groundcovers.

Closely related to Small Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea alpina), which hybridizes with this species where their ranges overlap. The hybrid is sterile, but can persist as vegetative colonies.

These species and their hybrids are the only plants of this genus in North America, but the broader Onagraceae or evening-primrose family contains numerous other plants.

Circaea lutetiana (Broadleaf Enchanter's Nightshade) | USDA PLANTS Database (About This Site)

Enchanter's-Nightshade | iNaturalist (About This Site)

Circaea canadensis | Biota of North America Project (BONAP) (About This Site)

Circaea canadensis | Flora of North America (About This Site)

Circaea canadensis | Missouri Plants (About This Site)

Broad-leaved Enchanter's Nightshade | Maryland Biodiversity Project (About This Site)

Circaea canadensis (Enchanter's Nightshade) | Minnesota Wildflowers (About This Site)

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Photo © , CC BY-SA 4.0.