Weeds: Pokeweed: Phytolacca americana

categories: I-Po Weeds

last review date: 2025-10-12 07:55

Biology

Pokeweed is a shrub-like herbaceous perennial. It can grow quickly to a height of up to 10′ in one year.

The central stem bears egg-shaped leaves which can range from 6″-12″ in length. Leaves are alternate and have pointed ends and crinkled edges. Pokeweed stems are reddish. It has a carrot-like taproot.

The entire plant dies back to the ground in the fall.

Pokeweed blooms during the summer. The flowers are in greenish-white long clusters (racemes. By late summer, berries have begun to form, at first green and later purplish black.

• SPECIAL INFORMATION: The berries and roots are highly poisonous to humans.

Habitat

Pokeweed does well in either full sun or partial shade. It can grow on a wide range of soil types.

Management Options

See "Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Landscape" for successful problem management techniques.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

• Hand remove first-year plants early in the growing season. The large taproot makes it difficult to remove established plants.
• Cut plants numerous times during the growing season each year until controlled.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• Apply a systemic herbicide to the foliage in late summer.