This silvery-colored perennial is a "prohibited noxious weed" in Arizona. Its attractive, star shaped, violet-blue flowers make one want to take a closer look at it, even put the flowers in a vase, until ones' fingers meet up with the plant's spiny stems and leaves. Its leaves alternate, are jagged and narrow. The plant itself may grow to only one-half of a foot tall to perhaps two feet.

Mature mustard-yellow pods on the plant harbor many seeds. The pods remind one of tiny tomatoes, gourds, or even berries. Growing at elevations up to 5,500 feet, this plant flowers until frost, but grows almost anywhere, especially where it isn't wanted, such as in field crops.

Most children learn at an early age that this plant is pretty to look at, but thanks to its prickly demeanor, not to touch it, which is just as well. The cute, little seed pods on Silverleaf nightshade (as well as its leaves) contain solanine, the poisonous alkaloid, which is very toxic to cattle.