Phytolacca americana
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- fy-toh-LAK-uh a-mer-ih-KAY-nah
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Pokeweed is a native herbaceous perennial in the Phytolaccaceae family that may grow 4 to 10 feet high. It is an aggressive plant that self-seeds easily and can become weedy. The plant grows easily in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It prefers consistently moist soils but will tolerate short periods of drought.
The leaves are bright green, give off an unpleasant aroma when crushed and the stems are attractive reddish-purple color. White blooms first mature in early summer and continue into early fall. The plant has a thick fleshy taproot, up to 12 inches long and 4 inches thick. Dark blue-black, purple berries mature in the late summer to fall and attract birds.
Despite its moderately attractive ornamental features, Phytolacca americana is generally considered an invasive weed in most settings. However, leaving a few for the birds is a good idea.
All parts of this plant are poisonous to humans, except by boiling young leaves only in at least two changes of water.
Insects, Diseases or Other Plant Problems:
Susceptible to mosaic virus.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- Phytolacca americana var. 'rigida'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- Phytolacca americana var. 'rigida'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phytolacca
- Species:
- americana
- Family:
- Phytolaccaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Distribution:
- Northern and Central North America.
- 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.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Polkweed is moderately deer resistant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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 Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Drooping cluster of green fruit ripens to glossy dark purple-black that attract birds and small mammals. Displays from June to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Description:
- Racemes of small, white flowers in bloom July through September. Produces flowers that may be up to ¾ of an inch wide along 8” racemes. The flower has five petal-like greenish to white sepals.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The large green leaves (12 inches long up to 7 inches wide) and give off an unpleasant aroma when crushed or bruised. Leaves taper at both ends.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Showy purple stems, stout (up to 2 inches in diameter), smooth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Insect Pests
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Causes diarrhea and vomiting. The plant contains substances that cause cell division and can damage chromosomes. These substances can be absorbed through any abrasions in the skin, potentially causing serious blood aberrations, and so it is strongly recommended that the people wear gloves when handling the plant.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- All parts of the plant are poisonous.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
