Other common names:
American Pokeweed, Pigeonberry, Pokeberry Other scientific names: Phytolacca decandra, Phytolacca thyrsiflora French names:
Phytolaque d'Amérique Family: Pokeweed Family (Phytolaccaceae) Flowers: Summer; White; 5 parts (petals); Tall raceme of white flowers, arching over as it ages. Leaves: Alternate, Simple, Entire Height:
100-300 cm (39-118 in) Fruit/Seeds:
Black or dark purple berries, not edible. Habitat: Forests, Fields and Open Areas Grows in Sun/Shade:
Shade Edible:
The young shoots are edible.
Poisonous:
The plant becomes poisonous once it grows up past the young shoot stage.
Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 200 Native/Non-native:
Native Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: americana: American Photographs:
98 photographs available, of which 16 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
The tall raceme of white flowers.
Closer view of flowers.
The dark purple berries. They are not edible.
A leaf, upper surface.
Stem.
Purplish glaucous stem.
A young plant, past the edible stage.
A large clump of Pokeweed.
Flower buds.
Flower raceme just emerging.
Remnants of Pokeweed in the winter.
A flower developing into a berry.
Along a single raceme you will sometimes find fruit at the base, and flwoers at the tip.
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
