Family: Solanaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Solanum quitoense, commonly known as naranjilla or lulo, is a tropical fruit-bearing shrub native to Central and South America, ranging from Costa Rica through Venezuela and Peru, and including the Galápagos Islands. This fast-growing plant typically reaches 3–8 feet (1–2.5 m) tall and is recognized by its large, velvety leaves, purple-tinged stems, and distinctive orange fruits. The fruit is highly valued for its tangy, citrus-like flavor and is widely used in juices, desserts, preserves, and other culinary applications. Naranjilla is also cultivated as an ornamental plant due to its attractive foliage and unusual appearance.

Risks & Threats
Although Solanum quitoense is not currently known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it possesses several traits that raise concerns for tropical island ecosystems. Like many members of the Solanum genus, it produces numerous seeds that can be dispersed by birds, mammals, and other animals that consume its fruits. Its ability to grow rapidly in disturbed habitats and reproduce readily increases the potential for escape from cultivation. If introduced into suitable environments, it could compete with native vegetation and contribute to the spread of weedy plant communities. Because this species exhibits characteristics associated with invasive behavior elsewhere, caution is warranted when considering its use in Hawaii. Plant Pono recommends choosing a low-risk or native alternative whenever suitable options are available to help protect Hawaii’s unique ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized elsewhere – established in Panama, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Galapagos
  
• History of repeated introductions – widely cultivated outside native range
  
• Congeneric weeds – many invasive Solanum species exist
  
• Produces spines – armed with stout, yellowish prickles
  
• Shade tolerant – can establish in disturbed forest edges and understories
  
• Broad soil tolerance – grows in poor, stony, or limestone soils
  
• Produces viable seed – reproduces effectively from seed
  
• Self-compatible – single plants can set seed
  
• Early maturity – fruits within 10–12 months
  
• Intentional human dispersal – widely spread for fruit cultivation
  
• Bird-dispersed – fleshy berries eaten and spread by frugivores
  
• Seeds survive gut passage – adapted for endozoochory
  
• High seed output – ~1,400 seeds per fruit

Low Risk Traits:

• Non-climbing – grows as an herb or small shrub
  
• Does not form dense thickets – occurs at low densities in naturalized areas
  
• Not aquatic or grass – terrestrial shrub
  
• Not nitrogen-fixing – does not alter soil nutrient cycles
  
• No underground storage organs – lacks bulbs, corms, or tubers
  
• No wind dispersal – seeds enclosed in fleshy fruit
  
• No external attachment – unlikely to be dispersed unintentionally or as a produce contaminant