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Phytolaccaceae
Phytolacca

not marked as a favorite taxon Phytolacca americana Linnaeus. Common name: Common Pokeweed. Phenology: May-Nov. Habitat: In a wide variety of natural and disturbed habitats, usually associated with exposed mineral soil. Distribution: ME, ON, s. MN, and NE south to FL and sc. TX.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: An abundant ‘native weed’ occurring throughout e. North America, P. americana is widely dispersed by birds and quickly colonizes exposed mineral soil even in undisturbed forests, such as on tree-fall tip-up mounds or flood scours. It is most abundant, however, as a weed of urban, suburban, and agricultural disturbances. The berries and mature stems are poisonous; the young stems have been used as a potherb and the purple berries as a source of ink.

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, G, GrPl, Il, Mi, Pa, S, Tn, W, WV, Hardin (1964a), Rogers (1985); = Phytolacca americana var. americana – Ar, FNA4, K1, K3, K4, Mo3, NE, NY, Va, Caulkins & Wyatt (1990); < Phytolacca americana – Fl5, GW2, NcTx, RAB, Tx, WH3.

Links to other floras: = Phytolacca americana var. americana - FNA4

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image #1 of Phytolacca americana© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Phytolacca americana© Tracie L. Jeffries | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Phytolacca americana© Bryan England | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Phytolacca americana© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Phytolacca americana© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Phytolacca americana© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Phytolacca americana© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Phytolacca americana© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Phytolacca americana© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Phytolacca americana© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Phytolacca americana© Joshua Doby, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Joshua Doby source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Phytolacca americana© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Coarse, erect perennial of a wide variety of natural and disturbed habitats, and usually associated with exposed mineral soil.

Stems: Stems stout, branched, light green to pinkish or dark red, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, oval to lance-shaped, 3-12 in. long, with prominent veins, smooth.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers stalked and in elongated racemes (2-8 in. long) that nod from leaf axils, about 1/4 in. wide consisting of 5 spreading white to pinkish sepals (no petals) and a bright green ovary.

Fruits: Fruit a shiny dark purple, slightly flattened-round berry with reddish-purple juice.

Comments: Stems, leaves and berries are toxic to humans. The similar P. rigida occurs in maritime habitats--dunes, salt marshes, and disturbed areas on barrier islands--and has shorter (less than 3 1/2 in.) flower racemes and shorter flower/fruit stalks (less than 1/4 in. long vs. longer than 1/4 in.)

Height: 3-10 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Coarse, erect perennial of a wide variety of natural and disturbed habitats, and usually associated with exposed mineral soil.

stems: Stems stout, branched, light green to pinkish or dark red, smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, oval to lance-shaped, 3-12 in. long, with prominent veins, smooth.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers stalked and in elongated racemes (2-8 in. long) that nod from leaf axils, about 1/4 in. wide consisting of 5 spreading white to pinkish sepals (no petals) and a bright green ovary.

fruits: Fruit a shiny dark purple, slightly flattened-round berry with reddish-purple juice.

comments: Stems, leaves and berries are toxic to humans. The similar P. rigida occurs in maritime habitats--dunes, salt marshes, and disturbed areas on barrier islands--and has shorter (less than 3 1/2 in.) flower racemes and shorter flower/fruit stalks (less than 1/4 in. long vs. longer than 1/4 in.)

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America



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