Red China Eggplant | 15 Seeds

Classification: Solanum aethiopicum (Heirloom) Form: Structural Stem | Ribbed Fruit Role: Autumnal Mimic Longevity: Exceptional (Fresh or Dried)

Nature occasionally indulges in a visual joke. This is one of its best.

While technically an ornamental eggplant, this heirloom possesses a deceptive genius: it produces stems adorned with small, perfectly ribbed fruit that are the exact scale and color of miniature pumpkins. It is a botanical trompe-l'œil—a pumpkin that requires no vine, no patch, and no muddy boots to harvest.

It is the florist’s secret weapon for autumn. Instead of rolling gourds around a table where they inevitably rot, you can arrange these architectural stems in a vase, creating an instant, suspended harvest that defies gravity.

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The Curator’s Notes:

• The Deception: Do not try to make a pie out of these. They are ornamental Solanum, bred for beauty, not flavor. They exist solely to look chic in a foyer arrangement.
• The Preservationist: These stems possess an uncanny lifespan. They hold their vivid orange color for weeks in fresh water and can be dried for permanent display. They are the definition of "high yield, low effort."
• The Conversation: Guests will inevitably ask how you managed to glue tiny pumpkins to a branch. You may tell them the truth, or you may simply smile and let them believe you are a horticultural wizard.
• Thermal Requirement: Critical. Like all eggplants, these are heat-seekers. They require a warm start (75–85°F) indoors. If you plant them in cold soil, they will simply refuse to participate.