Tropical Soda-apple
Solanum viarum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Tropical Soda-apple is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
24"–48" H × 24"–48" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Native alternatives to Tropical Soda-apple
Tropical Soda-apple is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaTropical soda-apple is an invasive shrub-like perennial that produces white flowers followed by small yellow fruits. This aggressive weed spreads rapidly and is extremely difficult to control once established. It is a noxious weed that should never be planted.
In an HOA neighborhood
Tropical Soda-apple takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
- Classified as noxious invasive weed
- Illegal to plant in many areas
- Spreads aggressively and damages property values
Wildlife value
While it may attract some bees and beetles, this invasive species displaces native plants that provide much better wildlife habitat and food sources.
Common questions
- How much sun does Tropical Soda-apple need?
- Tropical Soda-apple grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Tropical Soda-apple bloom?
- Tropical Soda-apple blooms in May, June, July, August, and September.
- Is Tropical Soda-apple toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Tropical Soda-apple is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Tropical Soda-apple toxic to cats?
- Yes. Tropical Soda-apple is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What pollinators does Tropical Soda-apple attract?
- Tropical Soda-apple draws bees and beetles.
- Is Tropical Soda-apple HOA-friendly?
- Tropical Soda-apple takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Tropical Soda-apple and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
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