Plant of the Month, September 2007

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Phytolacca americana

Common Name: Pokeweed

Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Phytolaccaceae
Height/Spread: 8-10 feet

Leaves:  alternate with coarse texture with moderate porosity.  They can reach 9” in length.  Leaves are medium green and smooth.

Flowers:  5 regular parts with upright stamens and are up to 2-inches wide. 
Bloom Time: Blooms first appear in early summer and continue into early fall.

Fruit:  A shiny dark purple berry.  Berries are pomes, round with a flat indented top and bottom.  Berries are green, turning white and then blackish purple.
Growing Conditions: 

Full sun or sun to partial shade.
Diseases/pests: Fungal spotting on leaves, leaf burn from desiccating winds.

Natural Range:  Found in most of the United State except the Mountain States, Alaska and Hawaii.

Hardiness: USDA zones 6a – 10b
Location: Perennial Border (PB-15)