American pokeweed (SPC Florida Plants )

American pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

Summary ²

Pokeweed is a large-rooted perennial with a strong-growing top, reaching up to 10 or more ft. in height. Pokeweed usually has a red trunk-like stem, which becomes hollow as the plant matures. Leaves tend to be quite large, approximately 10 in. long, simple, alternate, ovate-shaped, dark green, and attached to the stem by a red, fleshy petiole. The top dies down in winter. The young, asparagus-like shoots are formed in spring, and blooms in the warm weather from July to September. When flowering, individual flowers appear green to white and are typically without petals (what you see are the sepals). Fruits are green when immature and turn a deep purple to black at maturity. Each fleshy fruit is approximately 6-11 mm long, and contains approximately 9 seeds. Additionally, plants can produce anywhere from a few thousand seeds to over 48,000 seeds per plant. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for over 40 years. Pokeweed grows in rich pastures, waste places, gardens, open places in woodlands, and along fence rows. It grows on deep, rich, gravelly soils, limestone, and sandy hammock soils in Florida. Although pokeweed can cause severe poisoning in humans, Native Americans once used this plant as a heart stimulant and as a narcotic. Additionally, many people cut young shoots and leaves and eat the plant as one would eat asparagus, thus the name poke salad. For human consumption, the plant must be boiled at least two times in water and the water must be removed before eating. Some say that an additional boiling will essentially remove all toxins in the plant material.

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Range Map

iNat Map

Leaf shape	Ovate
Flowers	Green, White
Leaf type	Simple
Fruit	Black, Green, Purple
Leaf arrangement	Alternate

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