Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana · Phytolaccaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around pokeweed and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Common name
- American Pokeweed
- Family
- Phytolaccaceae
- Form
- Shrub
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- Summer to autumn
- Adult size
- 1.5 to 2.5 m in height
- Hardiness
- Hardy to -15 °C
- Origin
- North America
Care
Sunlight
American Pokeweed prefers full sun or partial shade for generous fruiting. However, it tolerates partial shade well. Avoid areas exposed to strong winds that could damage its stems.
Soil and planting
Plant in well-draining soil, preferably rich in organic matter. This shrub adapts to various soil types but appreciates slightly moist environments. Enrich the planting hole with compost.
Watering
Water regularly during the first year of establishment, particularly during dry periods. Once established, this shrub is relatively drought-tolerant. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Pruning and training
Prune lightly after flowering to control shape and spread. Remove dead or damaged wood in late winter. Pruning is not mandatory but encourages better branching.
Fertilization
An annual application of well-decomposed compost at the base is generally sufficient. You can add balanced fertilizer in spring to promote growth. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which would reduce fruiting.
Pests and diseases
This shrub is generally robust and not very susceptible to common pests. In humid and confined environments, watch for powdery mildew or rot. Good air circulation and adequate drainage prevent most problems.
Did you know?
American Pokeweed is a shrub that fascinated European botanists from the 16th century onwards: its deep black berries, toxic to humans, intrigued them for a long time. In North America, Native Americans once used its roots for medicinal purposes. Today, it is primarily a spectacular ornamental shrub with its clusters of small pink flowers and remarkable berry-like fruits in autumn.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Phytolacca acinosaPhytolacca acinosa
- RougeplantRivina humilis
- Tropical pokeweedPhytolacca icosandra
- Guinea henweedPetiveria alliacea
- CamelliaCamellia japonica
- GrapevineVitis vinifera
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.