Soft Enchanter's Nightshade Plant Care

Soft Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea mollis) belongs to the Onagraceae family within the Circaea genus.

Soft Enchanter's Nightshade displays a low spreading groundcover growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Soft Enchanter's Nightshade produces small white or pink flowers in racemes.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Soft Enchanter's Nightshade every 3–5 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Soft Enchanter's Nightshade thrives in part shade to full shade. The optimal light range is 50–500 lux. Avoid placing Soft Enchanter's Nightshade in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Circaea mollis tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Soft Enchanter's Nightshade prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Moist, rich, well-draining soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Soft Enchanter's Nightshade to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Soft Enchanter's Nightshade every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with part shade to full shade and moist, rich, well-draining soil with high organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Soft Enchanter's Nightshade is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Soft Enchanter's Nightshade can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Soft Enchanter's Nightshade while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Soft Enchanter's Nightshade is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Soft Enchanter's Nightshade can be propagated through division, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to alpine enchanter's nightshade plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Soft Enchanter's Nightshade is susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Soft Enchanter's Nightshade grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Soft Enchanter's Nightshade as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.