Aubergines have their origins in the warm regions of South Asia, where early forms emerged from wild nightshade species and were already used by ancient cultures. Through trade routes they later reached the Mediterranean, Africa and eventually Europe, where numerous regional types developed over time. The diversity spans elongated, round, pear‑shaped and small‑fruited forms, as well as colour variations from deep violet, black, light green, pink and white to delicately pale lilac, either solid or striped.

In subtropical climates, aubergines thrive particularly well during the warm seasons, as they require long vegetation periods and consistently high temperatures. In temperate regions, many of our traditional and historically preserved open‑pollinated varieties also perform reliably when started early and planted out in warm, sheltered locations. Aubergines show strong ecological adaptability and can be cultivated successfully in many climates when timed correctly.