Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Black Nightshade Poisonous to Alpacas?

Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) — a weed. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — black nightshade is toxic to alpacas.

Keep it out of pastures, hay and reach of fences, and never feed trimmings.

Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum). Photo: Giuseppe Frizzi, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Solanum nigrum
Family
Solanaceae
Plant type
Weed
Toxic parts
Leaves and green (unripe) berries
Toxic compound
Glycoalkaloids (solanine), nitrates

Why it matters

A common garden and field weed with small white flowers and black berries.

Signs of black nightshade poisoning in alpacas

  • Drooling and loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Depression, weakness, trembling
  • Dilated pupils

Signs can appear within minutes (cyanide, cardiac toxins) or only after weeks of exposure (liver toxins). Many poisoned camelids are simply found dead, so prevention is everything.

What to do if your alpaca ate black nightshade

  1. Move the herd away and remove any remaining plant material, clippings or fallen leaves.
  2. Call your veterinarian immediately, even if the alpaca looks normal. Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
  3. Bring a sample or clear photo of the plant to help identification.
  4. Do not give home remedies, oils or try to make the alpaca vomit unless your vet tells you to.
  5. Keep the animal quiet, in shade or shelter, with water available. Write down the time and every symptom you see.
  6. Check every other alpaca that had access, then remove the plant permanently (including roots).

Emergency: call your veterinarian immediately. If you cannot reach them, contact an animal poison control service (in the U.S., the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline; fees may apply). Bring a sample or photo of the plant.

About the plant

Solanum nigrum, the European black nightshade or simply black nightshade or blackberry nightshade, is a species of flowering plant in the family Solanaceae, native to Eurasia and introduced in the Americas, Australasia, and South Africa. Ripe berries and cooked leaves of edible strains are used as food in some locales, and plant parts are used as a traditional medicine. Some other species may also be referred to as "black nightshade".From Wikipedia — “Solanum nigrum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 380,542 recorded observations of Solanum nigrum L. worldwide, including 7,177 in the United States. It belongs to the Solanaceae family, together with Angel's Trumpet, Tobacco, Bittersweet Nightshade, Deadly Nightshade, Horse Nettle. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is black nightshade poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — black nightshade is toxic to alpacas. A common garden and field weed with small white flowers and black berries.
What part of black nightshade is toxic to alpacas?
Leaves and green (unripe) berries.
What are the symptoms of black nightshade poisoning?
Drooling and loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation, depression, weakness, trembling and dilated pupils.
Is dried black nightshade safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q146400.