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American Pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

Other common name(s):

Great Pokeweed, Pokeweed, Pokeberry, Red Ink Plant, Pigeonberry

Family:

Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie
Bastrop Lost Pines, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3
to
5
ft.

Spread

2
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Moist

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

No Bloom

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Berry, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Small Mammals, Bees

Maintenance

Low maintenance. 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. Will naturalize in the landscape by self-seeding. Good for pollinator gardens and naturalized areas and woodlands. Susceptible to mosaic virus.

Comments

Blooms January-December depending on region. A tall, large-leaved, branching plant with reddish stems and long clusters of small, white flowers. 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. Pokeweed is moderately deer and rabbit resistant. Berries and roots are poisonous to humans

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PHAM4. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Phytolacca+americana&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=16889&locationType=County&mapType=Normal., 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=19523#null, 6) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/phytolacca-americana/, 7) https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=284958&isprofile=0&n=1

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