Perennial herb to 2 m tall, generally grown as an annual, sometimes with a few spines. Leaves 10-20 cm long, 5-10 cm wide, ovate, strongly toothed or lobed, unequal at the base. Flowers lateral, solitary or a few in a cluster, the lowermost bisexual, upper ones male. Corolla to 4 cm wide, violet to pale blue. Fruit round to elongated, to 20 cm long, yellow, orange or white but mostly purple-black.

Africa, Asia

Commercial cultivars available include 'Agora', 'Black Beauty', 'Black Gnome', 'Blackmail TM', 'Blackwell', 'Bonica', 'Casper', 'Early Long Purple', 'Lebanese', 'Long Purple', 'Market Supreme', 'Mini Lebanese' and 'Supreme'.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Solanaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.