Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Friday - August 20, 2010
From: Shelby, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification, possibly Phytolacca americana (American pokeweed)
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a patch of plants I can't find what they are, could you help? The plant is a tuber (resembles a carrot when it is small), the stalk is red and fibrous, comes back each year bigger, has green leaves and multiple clusters of black, round berries. I am from the west coast and have never seen it. I don't see it in any of the other yards around our property. It appears to spread. The size of the roots on the older plants are very large. What is it and is it poisonous? ThanksANSWER:
This sounds a bit like Phytolacca americana (American pokeweed). If it is American pokeweed, then yes, it is poisonous in some stages, but it is also can be eaten with care after preparation. You can read more about its medicinal and toxic properties here. Below are some photos of it. If this doesn't appear to be your plant, please send us photos of it and we will do our best to identify it. Here are the instructions for submitting photos or you can read them on Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page:
1. Tell us where and when you found the plant and describe the site where it occurred.
2. If possible, take several high-resolution images including details of leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and the overall plant.
3. Save images in JPEG format. Do not reduce the resolution of your images. High-resolution images are much easier for us to work with.
4. Send email with images attached to [email protected] Please enter Plant ID Request on the subject line of your email.
Photos of American pokeweed from our Image Gallery:
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identfication
October 21, 2009 - Hi...Can you please identfy the tall, evergreen shrub with purple plum-colored foliage that I have noticed in winter locally?...Hope so, need he color! THX
view the full question and answer
Identification of Monotropa uniflora
August 09, 2007 - I found a peculiar flower in Nopoming Provincial Forest, Manitoba last weekend (August 4th). I found it growing in moss on top of rock (the Canadian shield). It was in shade.
About 3 or 4 were clum...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on forbs
October 16, 2005 - What kind of plant is a forb? I see the term used frequently in reference to grasses (I think), but I can't figure out exactly what a forb is.
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
June 25, 2009 - I found a low-growing plant with thick spoon shaped light green leaves. It was growing in the edged of a lawn, The leaves almost look like they have fine white hairs on them. It is very pretty, but wh...
view the full question and answer
Identifying a plant similar to sarsaparilla
September 04, 2011 - I am trying to identify a plant that looks very similar to sasparilla, but has a ring of blue berries at the end of a long stalk, and the plant itself is spreading, not an isolated herb like sasparill...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |