American pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
American pokeweed,Pokeweed,Poke,Pokeberry,Great pokeweed,Red ink plant,Pigeonberry,Common Pokeweed,Garnet,Pidgeon Berry,Scoke
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Description
Phytolacca americana, also known as American pokeweed, pokeweed, poke sallet, dragonberries is a poisonous, herbaceous perennial plant in the pokeweed family Phytolaccaceae growing up to 8 ft (2.4m) in height. It has simple leaves on green to red or purplish stems and a large white taproot. The flowers are green to white, followed by purple to almost black berries which are a food source for songbirds such as gray catbird, northern mockingbird, northern cardinal, and brown thrasher, as well as other birds and some small animals (i.e., to species that are unaffected by its mammalian toxins).
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Taxonomy
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Phytolaccaceae
Genus
Phytolacca
Characteristics
Bloom Time
Fall, Summer, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Plant Type
Herb, Native Plant, Perennial, Poisonous, Weed, Wildflower
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Height
6-12 ft.
Flower
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.
Fruit
Drooping cluster of green fruit ripens to glossy dark purple-black that attract birds and small mammals. Displays from June to November., Purple
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How to Grow
Water
Medium
Sunlight
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours), Part Shade
Benefits
Attracts
Bees
Pollinators
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Warning
POISONOUS PARTS: All parts, mainly the roots; shoots, leaves, and berries when fresh and in quantity. Highly toxic, may be fatal if eaten. Toxic Principle: Phytolaccatoxin and related triterpene saponins, an alkaloid (phytolaccin), and histamines. Medicinal: Amerindians used berry tea for rheumatism, arthritis, dysentery; poulticed berries on sore breasts, root poulticed for rheumatism, neuralgic pains, bruises; wash used for sprains, swellings; leaf preparations once used as an expectorant. (Weiner) Emetic and cathartic, poulticed for bleeding, pimples and black heads, juice may cause dermatitis. (Foster & Duke)