Eggplant | Plant - Britannica

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External Websites

• BMC Plant Biology - Comparative physiology and transcriptome response patterns in cold-tolerant and cold-sensitive varieties of Solanum melongena
• Go Botany - Eggplant
• National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Genetic Diversity and Utilization of Cultivated Eggplant Germplasm in Varietal Improvement
• University of Illinois Extension - Home Vegetable Gardening - Eggplant
• Utah State University - Yard and Garden Extension - How to Grow Eggplant in Your Garden
• Pennsylvania State University - PlantVillage - Eggplant
• University of Minnesota Extension - Growing eggplant in home gardens
• North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - Eggplant
• WebMD - Health Benefits of Eggplant
• Healthline - 7 Surprising Health Benefits of Eggplants
• Verywell Fit - Eggplant Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
• USDA PLANTS - Eggplant
• UF - IFAS Extension - Gardening Solutions - Eggplant
• University of Missouri Extension - Eggplant Production
• Frontiers - Frontiers in Plant Science - Unveiling the nutraceutical potential of indigenous and exotic eggplant for bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity as well as its suitability to the nutraceutical industry
• CORE - Shoot and Root Growth and Yield of Eggplant Cultivars as Affected by Wilt Disease (PDF)
• Clemson Cooperative Extension - Home and Garden Information Center - Eggplant

eggplant plant Ask Anything Also known as: Solanum melongena, aubergine, guinea squash Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Dec. 4, 2025 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

eggplant, (Solanum melongena), tender perennial plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), grown for its edible fruits. Eggplant requires a warm climate and has been cultivated in its native Southeast Asia since remote antiquity. A staple in cuisines of the Mediterranean region, eggplant figures prominently in such classic dishes as the Greek moussaka, the Italian eggplant parmigiana, and the Middle Eastern relish baba ghanoush. It is also frequently served as a baked, grilled, fried, or boiled vegetable and is used as a garnish and in stews. The plant is closely related to the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and the potato (S. tuberosum) as well as to several poisonous nightshades.

Also called: aubergine or Guinea squash (Show more) Related Topics: vegetable nightshade baba ghanoush moussaka musakkʾa (Show more) On the Web: CORE - Shoot and Root Growth and Yield of Eggplant Cultivars as Affected by Wilt Disease (PDF) (Dec. 04, 2025) (Show more) See all related content

Eggplant is usually grown as an annual and features an erect bushy stem that is sometimes armed with spines. The leaves are large, ovate, and slightly lobed. The pendant violet flowers are characteristically solitary and approximately 5 cm (2 inches) across. The fruit is a large egg-shaped berry with a glossy surface that varies in colour from dark purple to red, pink, yellowish, or white and is sometimes striped; the colour and shape of the white variety is the source of the common name.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.