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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Phytolacca americana var. americana (American pokeweed)
Pyle, Lynn

Phytolacca americana var. americana

Phytolacca americana L. var. americana

American Pokeweed, Pigeonberry, Pokeberry

Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed Family)

Synonym(s): Phytolacca decandra

USDA Symbol: PHAMA3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

 

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 20 feet tall, usually much shorter.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec
Bloom Notes: Blooms spring to fall in the North, year-round in the South.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV

Benefit

Warning: This is frequently a troublesome weed. Because all parts of the plant are poisonous, its potential ethnobotanical uses are not treated here.
Attracts: Birds
Poisonous: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Plant Identification
September 24, 2008
I have a single stem red vine with purple berries growing on it. It is in a cluster of bushes and gets mostly morning and early afternoon sun. The berries also have small bumps at the stem. I have ...
view the full question and answer

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Phytolacca americana var. americana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Phytolacca americana var. americana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Phytolacca americana var. americana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-26
Research By: TWC Staff

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