A bush to a shrub of 1.50 to 5 m high, young branches covered with a tomentum made up of grey whitish starred hairs, and bear  the 2.5 cm long, hooked  thorns with flattened base.  The fruits are big  yellow berries  of a diameter of 3.5 – 5 cm .

seeds mixed with salt are used to cure cough. In East Africa, people use Solanum aculeastrum for treating bronchitis. The roots are boiled and the liquid taken with meat broth as a remedy for gonorrhea. Mitali Emmanuel practicing medicinal plants in Western Rwanda, Rutsiro district said Solanum aculeastrum is used to treat benign tumors while Kayiranga Moussa confirmed its uses in the treatment of gonorrhea.

The cushed fruit were used to wash the clothes