UF Home

Plant Identification Learning Module:
Vegetables

Eggplant (Solanum melongena var. esculentum)

The plant is large, upright and branching. Leaves are broad and slightly fuzzy with scalloped margins. Stems are prickly, especially near the leathery, green cap where the fruit attaches. Fruits are oblong to round and may be green, white, yellow, bronze, orange, purple or most commonly purple-black. Some varieties have small (1-inch diameter) fruits, while most average about 1 pound. Flowers are small, somewhat star-shaped and lavender in color. Seeds are very similar to pepper seed but are smaller and darker in color.