Nipple Fruit (Solanum mammosum)

Photo by Gayla Trail All Rights Reserved

Yesterday afternoon I was treated to an impromptu flower garden tour in the mountain village of Giraudel, Dominica. This region is known for it’s particularly rich soil and has, as a result, become a hub of flower growers and gardeners. I learned a few interesting tidbits that I hope to share here on a later date.

I regret not photographing a really pretty local orchid with green flowers, but the highlight was this nipple fruit plant, also known as titty fruit or cow’s udders.

While it may look like eggplant, the fruit is inedible and really only worth growing for it’s crazy appearance and so you can have a serious conversation with seemingly proper British flower gardeners that includes the words “titties” and “nipples.”

Guess what’s going to be on my seed list for 2010.

Gayla Trail
Gayla is a writer, photographer, and former graphic designer with a background in the Fine Arts, cultural criticism, and ecology. She is the author, photographer, and designer of best-selling books on gardening, cooking, and preserving.

Subscribe to get weekly updates from Gayla

4 thoughts on “Nipple Fruit (Solanum mammosum)

  1. I just saw this plant in a catalog the other day. It is SOO interesting looking! I am enjoying all your pics and updates from the Dominica. I cannot get ENOUGH!!

  2. Thanks JennJ. I have seen SO many new and interesting plants and have tons to share but I’m absolutely exhausted every evening from hiking up and down steep hills in the hot sun and humidity so I think I’ll have to do the real meaty updates when I get back. Also internet access has been sketchy.

  3. cow nipple titty fruit udder plant very pretty heheh – maybe it’s good cooked … (with brown sugar + butter)?

    you’ve started the last day of the year off with smiles

    :) (:

Comments are closed.