Plants

scarlet eggplant

Solanum aethiopicum L.

Family: Solanaceae · Genus: Solanum

Ethiopian eggplant, gilo

Placenta II Medium No biomass production

scarlet eggplant — No machine-readable author provided. Hans B.~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Solanaceae of African origin, close relative of eggplant. EcoAgri lists it in the medium stratum of the 'up to 3 years' bin. Bitter green fruits eaten sautéed or stuffed; traditional in Minas Gerais cuisine.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Solanum gilo Raddi, Solanum integrifolium Poir.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta II
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: Medium
Strata: Medium, Low
Biomass class: No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance: Low
Soil pH range: 5.5–6.8
Preferred soil texture: Loamy, Sandy
Hardiness zones: 10–12
Frost tolerance: 1.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height: 0.8–1.5 m
Recommended spacing: 0.5–0.8 m
Root system: Taproot
Root depth: Medium
Growth rate: Very fast
Lifespan: ≤ 2 years
Time to first harvest: 3 months

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Suitable
Cerrado Suitable

Köppen classes

Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable
Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Scarlet eggplant takes the Medium stratum in the Placenta II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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🪴 Cultivation

Erect herb or shrub 0.3–2 m, with or without prickles. Prefers full sun, fertile well-drained soils (pH 5.5–6.8); optimal 20–30 °C, tolerates 10–40 °C. Frost-sensitive. The Gilo group is selected for drought tolerance. Nursery-sown; transplant 30–35 days later at 15–20 cm.