Carolinense is the species most commonly called "the horsenettle". Other common names include radical weed, sand brier or briar, bull nettle, tread-softly, Solanum mammosum ("apple of Sodom"), devil's tomato and wild tomato.
They prefer full sun, but can tolerate both wet or dry conditions. They grow readily in sandy or loamy soils, and may also tolerate a wide range of soil types. They are most vigorous and most likely to become weedy or dominate on disturbed sites, but can also be found in less disturbed habitats.
One plant can produce more than 5,000 seeds. Fresh seeds do not germinate, staying dormant for 5-6 months. Optimum temperature for seed germination is 23-25°C; germination also occurs by alternating temperatures from 20 to 30°C.
