Description
Phytolacca – Pokeweed – Pokeberry –
There are about 35 deciduous or evergreen perennials, shrubs, and trees found in open fields or woodland in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Asia, and North and South America. They are grown for their attractive autumn color and their decorative fruits. It produces alternate ovate to elliptic, and smooth edged leaves, and most of the perennial species have colored stems. Racemes or panicles of small, shallowly cup shaped, petalless cream to beige flowers are followed by spherical, dark red to blackish purple berries. Grow in a large border, light woodland, or water side planting. All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested, the fruit of P. americana may be lethal if eaten. Contact with the sap may irritate skin.
Grow in any moderately fertile, moist soil in full sun or partial shade. Support taller species in open sites. Divide in summer.
Prone to leaf spots, and virus mosaic disease may occur.
P. americana – P. decandra – Pigeon Berry – Red Ink Plant – Poke – This erect perennial or deciduous shrub found from Eastern North America to Mexico grows 12′ feet tall and 3′ feet wide. From branching, red marked stems it carries ovate to lance shaped, mid green leaves, 6-12″ long, are purple-red tinged in autumn. From mid summer to early autumn it bears creamy to pink flowers, 3/8″ across, in racemes 8″ long, these elongate to 12″, and are usually pendent when bearing the blackish maroon berries. All parts are highly toxic if ingested.
Zones 5-9
