Perennials, Weeds > Phytolacca > Phytolacca americana > Phytolacca americana
Phytolacca americana
American Pokeweed, Pigeon Berry, Scoke, Garget
Origin: Northern and Central America.
| Family |
| Phytolaccaceae |
| Genus |
| Phytolacca |
| Species |
| americana |
| Category |
| Perennials, Weeds |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 2 - 5a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -35 - (-29) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -30 - (-20) |
| Height |
| 4 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| Landscape |
| Perfect for a woodland garden, or as part of a shrub or mixed garden, but should be kept out of reach of children as the berries are poisonous. |
| Cultivation |
| Grow in full sun or partial shade in a moisture-retentive soil, provide support in exposed situations. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| Pests |
| May be affected by mosaic, ringspot and other viruses. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Stems are often purple and regularly divided above. |
| Leaf Description |
| Leaves are green, becoming purple in autumn, growing to 30 cm. |
| Flower Description |
| Flowers are white, up to 6 mm in diameter. |
| Fruit Description |
| Berries are glossy, emerging green, then becoming red then purple-black, grow to 1.2 cm in diameter and are poisonous. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| Will self-seed freely under favourable conditions, possibly becoming a nuisance. May also be propagated by seed sown in autumn or by division in spring. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The berries are poisonous. |
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