Poke Salad Phytolacca americana var. rigida
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Phytolacca rigida
- Phonetic Spelling
- fy-toh-LAK-ah a-mer-ih-KAY-nah RI-ji-da
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Maritime Pokeweed is a perennial in the pokeweed family (Phytolaccaceae). Native to the United States and found in the Southeast coastal regions in disturbed areas, coastal sands, tidal marsh edges, and roadsides. The genus name is an Algonquian word for red dye plant.
Although it can reach 20 feet tall, it is usually 6-9 feet. This variety is smaller and less weedy than other Pokeweeds. It is identical to the species, American Pokeweed, but the flowers and berries grow on erect stems above the leaves.
Some sites place it on the Watch List since it is seen infrequently. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication.
Let it grow in remote areas to provide food for songbirds. In the garden, it is a poisonous weed.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: All parts of this plant are poisonous to humans and pets.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phytolacca
- Species:
- americana
- Family:
- Phytolaccaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Various parts of the plant are used for dye.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- United States
- Distribution:
- Only along the North Carolina seacoast.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are eaten by songbirds, like robins, cedar-waxwings, and warblers, small mammals, raccoons, opossums, foxes, and black bears. Songbirds, mourning doves, and small mammals eat the seeds. Dead stems are used by stem-nesting bees.
- Edibility:
- Young tender leaves may be eaten only as thoroughly cooked greens (in two waters). Cooked berries are safe for making pies. CAUTION: Berries, roots and mature plants are poisonous. Thus only new, young growth should be used in cooking and baking. Any red-tinged plant material should be discarded. To avoid collecting any part of the toxic root, do not cut below ground level. HARVEST: Collect only young shoots from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. Collect in early spring. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: Wash young shoots thoroughly with warm water. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Peel and parboil tender young shoots (less than eight inches) in two changes of water several minutes each. Boil in a third water until tender and serve like asparagus. Young stalks less than one foot tall (with leaves removed and before red-tinged) can be cut and rolled in cornmeal and fried like okra. They can also be pickled. Young leaves taken from stalks less than one foot tall can be parboiled in two changes of water for several minutes each and boiled in a third water until tender. To freeze, parboil leaves twice, cook, pat dry and place them in plastic bags.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Dark purple-black berry composed of 5-12 segments fused in a ring, on an erect stem (stems shorter than those on P. americana). Seeds are shiny, black and lenticular.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Black
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Racemes, linear clusters with each small flower on a short stem appears spring-fall sometimes year-round. Flowers have 5 petals are whiteish pink with black centers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Thin leaves, green on top, lighter below. Tapered at both ends.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Pinkish-red, smooth and partially hollow stem is rigid to flexible, not strong.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Humidity
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Burning of mouth and throat, salivation, severe stomach irritation, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, spasms, and convulsions; can be fatal
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Phytolaccatoxin and related triterpene saponins, an alkaloid (phytolaccin), and histamines
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Stems
