Solanum lycopersicum

Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) — a South American native once feared in Europe as a nightshade, now grown everywhere from cherry to beefsteak. The botanical home of our tomato range.

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Solanum lycopersicum — the tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is the botanical name for the tomato, a tender perennial in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) grown the world over as an annual. From tiny cherries to giant beefsteaks, it is the species behind our entire tomato range, including our sweet cherry tomatoes, within the fruiting vegetable collection.

History & origin

The tomato originated in western South America, along the Andes, and was first domesticated further north in Mesoamerica — the word “tomato” comes from the Nahuatl tomatl. Spanish explorers carried it to Europe in the 16th century, but for a long time it was grown only as a curiosity or ornamental: as a member of the nightshade family it was widely suspected of being poisonous. It took until the 18th and 19th centuries for the tomato to be fully embraced across European and Mediterranean cooking, where it is now central.

Its species name, lycopersicum, means “wolf peach” — a trace of those old suspicions about the handsome but mistrusted fruit.

Botanical characteristics

Botanically the tomato is a fruit — a berry — though we treat it as a vegetable in the kitchen. Plants grow in two main forms: indeterminate “cordon” types that climb and crop over a long season and need staking and side-shooting, and bush “determinate” types that stay compact and crop in a flush. Fruit ranges from pea-sized to over a kilogram, in red, pink, yellow, orange, green, purple and striped. Compact and trailing varieties do beautifully in our container range.

Growing Solanum lycopersicum from seed

Sow indoors in early spring for the longest season, keeping seedlings warm and bright. Pot on, harden off, then grow on in a greenhouse, against a warm wall or in the sunniest spot you have. Cordon types need a cane and regular side-shooting; all tomatoes want steady, even watering to prevent splitting and a high-potash feed once fruiting. Our vegetable sowing calendar and plant supports guide cover the details.

Ready to grow tomatoes? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Tomato · Cherry Tomato · Sweet Peppers · Container Veg · Fruiting Veg

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Solanum lycopersicum?
It is the botanical name for the tomato, a tender plant in the nightshade family.

Where do tomatoes originate?
From western South America, and they were first domesticated in Mesoamerica.

Why is it called “wolf peach”?
Lycopersicum means wolf peach, reflecting old European fears that the fruit was poisonous.

Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?
Botanically it is a fruit (a berry), but it is used as a vegetable in the kitchen.

Cordon or bush tomatoes?
Cordon types climb, are staked and crop over a long season; bush types stay compact and crop in a flush.