American Pokeweed

Host to the Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia). Pollinator plant.

Pokeweed is an herbaceous perennial in the Phytolaccaceae family, native to most of North America and found growing in pastures, recently cleared areas, woodland openings and along fencerows and in wastelands.

It can grow 4 to 10 feet high and 3 to 5 feet wide. It is an aggressive plant that self-seeds easily and can become weedy. The plant grows easily in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It prefers consistently moist soils but will tolerate short periods of drought. Pokeweed is moderately deer and rabbit resistant.

The leaves are bright green, give off an unpleasant aroma when crushed and the stems are attractive reddish-purple color. White blooms first mature in early summer and continue into early fall. The plant has a thick fleshy taproot, up to 12 inches long and 4 inches thick. Dark blue-black, purple berries mature in the late summer to fall and attract birds. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. (From the North Carolina Extension)