Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, where introduced; native to central and eastern North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, clearings, disturbed areas.
Flowers: June-August
Origin: Introduced from central and eastern North America
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies
Perennial herbs, the stems to 3 m. tall.
Leaves alternate, petiolate, the petiole 1-6 cm. long; leaf blades lanceolate to ovate, up to 35 cm. long and 18 cm. wide, the bases rounded to cordate, the tip acuminate.
Flowers in open racemes 6-30 cm. long, the lowest pedicles sometimes with more than one flower; pedicles 3-13 mm. long; sepals 5, white to greenish-white or pinkish or purplish, ovate, 2.5-3.3 mm. long; petals none; stamens 10, in a whorl; ovary superior.
Berries black, 6-11 mm. in diameter.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 441. 1753.
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var. americana – pigeonberry, pokeberry, pokeweed
Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, where introduced; native to central and eastern North America.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Phytolacca americana in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Phytolacca americana checklist entry
OregonFlora: Phytolacca americana information
E-Flora BC: Phytolacca americana atlas page
CalPhotos: Phytolacca americana photos
