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Native Plant Society of Texas

American Pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

Other common name(s):

Great Pokeweed, Pokeweed, Pokeberry, Red Ink Plant

Family:

Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie
Bastrop Lost Pines, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3
to
5
ft.

Spread

2
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained, Moist

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Pink

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Berry, Nectar, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Small Mammals, Moths

Maintenance

Low maintenance. Easy to grow. Prefers moist soils but will tolerate short periods of drought. Will naturalize in the landscape by self-seeding. Good for pollinator gardens and naturalized areas and woodlands. Native habitat: disturbed open woods, damp thickets, clearings, roadsides. Susceptible to mosaic virus. WARNING: berries and roots are poisonous to humans. Propagation: seed, root division.

Comments

Blooms July-October depending on growing conditions. A tall, branching plant with reddish stems and a thick fleshy taproot. Large leaves are lance shaped to oval, with rounded base and pointed tip. Flowers appear in long clusters of small, green to white flowers. Dark blue-black, purple berries mature in the late summer to fall and produce black, lens-shaped seeds. Larval host: Giant Leopard Moth.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PHAM4. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Phytolacca+americana&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=16889&locationType=County&mapType=Normal., 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=19523#null, 6) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/phytolacca-americana/, 7) https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=284958&isprofile=0&n=1, 8) https://seedsource.com/american-pokeweed/ 9) https://rangeplants.tamu.edu/plant/pokeberry-pokeweed/ 10) http://www.texaswildbuds.com/phytolacca-americana.html 11) https://houstonaudubon.org/conservation/bfc/nativeplants/gallery/pokeweed.html

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Scarification The seeds of pokeberry are germinated successfully by storing them dry over winter and then nicking them with a needle to break the seed coat, followed by germination treatment at about 75ºF. sow autumn or spring in a cold frame[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If you have sufficient seed, it might be worthwhile trying an outdoor sowing in a seed bed in early spring. Grow the plants on in the seedbed for their first year and plant them out the following spring. Gather about a pint of the purple berries, crush them, cover with water, and let ferment for a few days. The good seeds will settle to the bottom and the pulp and skins can be floated off and discarded. The seeds are then spread out to dry and then stored in a cool place. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PHAM4 2) https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/19804#:~:text=The%20seeds%20of%20pokeberry%20(Phytolacca,germination%20treatment%20at%20about%2075%C2%BAF. 3) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Phytolacca+americana#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,late%20spring%20or%20early%20summer. 4) https://www.michigangardener.com/growing-pokeweeds/
Root Division Use a sharp spade or knife to divide the rootstock, making sure that each section has at least one growth bud. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. It is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Division on March or October 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PHAM4 2) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Phytolacca+americana#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,late%20spring%20or%20early%20summer.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason