Plants in the Solanaceae (nightshades) family are an important farming staple because of their herbs, spices, and weeds that include potatoes and tomatoes. The Solanum pseudocapsicum (ornamental pepper) is one of the Solanaceae family that is not good to eat, even though it is sometimes called a winter cherry. They are grown as ornamental houseplants in the United States, but in Australia and South Africa the ornamental pepper is nothing but a weed. These perennial evergreen shrubs are certainly attractive with dark glossy green leaves, white flowers and round orange, red, or yellow fruits that look like cherry tomatoes. In humans, these fruits can produce gastric distress (vomiting and abdominal pain), but they can be dangerous, or even fatal, for dogs.
The ornamental pepper plant is toxic to dogs due to its solanine content, which is a glycoalkaloid poison that is found in tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes. They are all part of the nightshade family, which is known to cause serious intestinal disorders and central nervous system damage. Some of the side effects you may see are cardiac irregularities, paralysis, jaundice, and even death. These symptoms may not be evident until 12 - 18 hours after consumption, making diagnosis difficult if you did not actually witness your pet eating the ornamental pepper. The solanum glycoalkaloids in the plant can interrupt cell production, cause birth defects, and decreases the functioning of the mitochondria, triggering cell death.
