The Otricoli Orange Huckleberry is a stunning heirloom nightshade collected from the ancient Roman site of Ocriculum along Italy's Tiber River. Unlike its dark purple cousins, this curious plant produces abundant clusters of brilliant orange berries on compact 24- to 36-inch frames, reaching harvest in just 70 days. Hardy from zones 3 to 11, it grows reliably in most climates and rewards gardeners with a plant that's as visually striking as it is productive, covered in small fruits that catch the eye long before they're ready to pick.
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Moderate
3-11
36in H x ?in W
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High
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Picture a nightshade plant transformed by geography and time. Found growing wild in Umbria, Italy, the Otricoli Orange Huckleberry defies the dark berries you'd expect from its family, instead producing radiant orange fruits in profuse clusters. The compact growth habit, white flowers, and the sheer visual drama of those glowing berries make this heirloom a standout in any garden, a living reminder of an ancient Roman landscape that still grows the same way today.
As a member of the nightshade family and given its heirloom status, the Otricoli Orange Huckleberry likely serves culinary purposes, though the catalog sources provided don't specify particular dishes or preparations. The small berries and the plant's abundant production suggest it could be used fresh or preserved, though precise uses remain undetailed in the available data.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged at temperatures around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal germination.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 14 inches apart in prepared beds.
Berries reach harvest readiness at 70 days from transplanting. Pick fruit when fully orange and slightly soft to the touch; the bright coloring is your primary harvest indicator, as the berries will feel slightly yielding when ripe. Harvest regularly to encourage continued flowering and fruiting throughout the season.
Minimal pruning is needed for this compact variety. Remove any dead or diseased growth as it appears, and consider removing lower leaves once plants are established to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Pinching the growing tips in early summer can encourage bushier growth and more lateral branching, resulting in heavier fruit clusters.
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“This variety carries the romance of archaeological botany. Collectors from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds discovered it growing wild along the Tiber River in Umbria, Italy, at Ocriculum, an ancient Roman settlement. The plants thrived there alongside common black nightshade, suggesting this orange variant may have persisted for centuries in that specific microclimate. The Gettles, who documented the collection, brought these seeds back into cultivation, preserving a piece of Italian agricultural heritage that might otherwise have been lost to time. Its very name anchors it to place and history, connecting modern gardeners to the same soil where Romans once walked.”