Phytolacca americana Linnaeus. Common name: Common Pokeweed, Inkberry, Scoke, Pigeonberry. 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, southwards in Mexico (mainly Sierra Madre Oriental) to OAX.
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, Tat, Tn, W, WV, Hardin (1964a), Rogers (1985); = Phytolacca americana L. var. americana — Ar, Can, FNA4, K4, Mo3, NE, NY, Va, Caulkins & Wyatt (1990); < Phytolacca americana L. — Fl5, GW2, NcTx, RAB, Tx, WH3, Rzedowski & Calderon de Rzedowski (2000); < Phytolacca decandra L. — S13, misapplied; Phytolacca americana L. Basionym: Phytolacca americana L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Phytolacca americana var. americana - FNA4
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Tracie L. Jeffries | Original Image ⭷
© Bryan England | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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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