Pokeberry

Biological Name:

Phytolacca americana (Pokeberry)

Natural Habitat:

Pokeberry: This plant is native to North America and can be found in a variety of habitats including fields, meadows, and waste areas.

Description:

Pokeberry is a type of flowering plant that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Phytolaccaceae family which also includes plants such as pokeweed and American pokeweed. Pokeberry is an annual or perennial plant that produces large lobed leaves and clusters of small white flowers. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas pokeberry is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are poke berries poisonous to touch?
A: Simply touching pokeweed roots, stems, leaves or berries can provoke an allergic reaction. Very similar to poison oak or ivy. More mild cases happen when the berry juice or plant sap comes in contact with the skin. Exposure to its toxic proteins can cause an inflamed, blister-like rash.
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Q: What happens if you get pokeweed on your skin?
A: Contact with the plant can trigger inflammation and a painful, blistering rash. Call 911 or seek emergency care if you experience vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, or irregular heart rate or breathing after eating or coming into contact with pokeweed.
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Q: Can pokeweed be absorbed through the skin?
A: Don’t touch pokeweed with your bare hands. Chemicals in the plant can pass through the skin and affect the blood. If you must handle pokeweed, use protective gloves. It’s LIKELY UNSAFE for anyone to use pokeweed.
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Q: Is pokeweed toxic to dogs?
A: However this plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and people alike, and eating any part of it can cause symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, and in severe cases can even be deadly. Keep an eye out in your yard for any pokeweed, and make sure to remove any that is within reach of your pets or children!
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Q: Is pokeweed the same as nightshade?
A: The roots and seeds are poisonous. The branches bear clusters of flowers and dark red fruits. The fruits resemble the berries of nightshade and thus pokeweed is sometimes called American nightshade. Other common names are inkberry, pigeon berry, coakun, pocan bush, scoke, garget, and poke salad.
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Q: How do you get rid of pokeweed rash?
A: Pokeweed Rash After handling the plant, make sure you wash clothes thoroughly to remove any sap that may have come in contact with the fabrics. If you believe you’ve come into contact with pokeweed, wash the affected area immediately. If a mild rash develops, you can treat it at home with calamine lotion.
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Q: Does pokeweed make you itch?
A: Pokeweed isn’t considered to be a broad skin allergen, certainly nothing like poison ivy. However, some people are sensitive to the sap and have reported rashes after handling pokeweed. Unless you know you’re not one of those people, it would be a good precaution to wear rubber gloves.
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Q: Can humans eat Pokeberry?
A: The highest amounts of poison are found in the roots, leaves, and stems. Small amounts are in the fruit. Cooked berries and leaves (cooked twice in separate water) can technically be eaten. However, this is not recommended because there is no guarantee that they are safe.
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Q: Is pokeweed a narcotic?
A: Although pokeweed can cause severe poisoning in humans, Native Americans once used this plant as a heart stimulant and as a narcotic. The plant also contains a protein that has been shown to have a positive impact on HIV, a precursor to the AIDS virus.
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Q: Why do people eat pokeweed?
A: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center cites research showing that raw pokeweed has medicinal properties that can help cure herpes and HIV. That said, there are no clinical trials that support the use of the cooked dish as such, or as any kind of medicine, but its devotees swear by its curative qualities.
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Q: Is pokeberry poisonous to dogs?
A: Pokeweed grows wild since no farmer would cultivate this plant because of its toxicity. Some songbird species are not affected by the toxins, but ingesting poke berries can be fatal to dogs. Examples of poke-berry toxicity are low blood pressure, stomach and intestinal inflammation, diarrhea and bloody stool.
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Q: Do deer eat pokeweed berries?
A: Of course, both the fruit and foliage are highly preferred by deer because of its ease of digestibility (as low as 12 percent acid detergent fiber) and high crude protein content (up to 32 percent).
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Q: Is pokeberry good for wildlife?
A: The red chokeberry is a native of much of the southeastern United States. It can be a useful native plant for wildlife due to it’s fruit being a winter food source for birds. Apparently, the birds do have to get pretty darn hungry before they will eat it, but they will.
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Q: Did Native Americans eat pokeweed?
A: The Native Americans made a tea made from the berries and used it for treating arthritis, rheumatism, and dysentery. Some people living in the Ozarks ate one berry a year to prevent or to treat arthritis.
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Q: Are pokeweed berries good for anything?
A: Today, pokeberry is being researched as a possible treatment for cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, a chemical found in pokeberry juice has been used to successfully treat cancerous tumors in laboratory mice. The chemical is also being tested to determine if it can protect cells from HIV and AIDS.
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Q: Should I pull out pokeweed?
A: What to do about pokeweed? A: Your plants with pink stems and long strands of berries is Phytolacca americana (pokeweed). It is considered a non-native invasive plant and removal is recommended. Seeds and roots should go in trash to reduce chances of spreading it.
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Q: What can you do with Pokeberry?
A: In foods, pokeweed berry is used as red food coloring and as a wine coloring agent. In manufacturing, pokeweed berry is used to make ink and dye.
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Q: What did Native Americans use pokeweed for?
A: The Pokeweed was used in making dyes. The dried mature leaf was used in making a yellow dye. The berry juice was used as red dye, red ink, or food coloring.
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Q: Should I pull up pokeweed?
A: What to do about pokeweed? A: Your plants with pink stems and long strands of berries is Phytolacca americana (pokeweed). It is considered a non-native invasive plant and removal is recommended. Seeds and roots should go in trash to reduce chances of spreading it.
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Q: Can you eat pokeweed raw?
A: Pokeweed is always eaten cooked. In fact, raw poke can make you sick or even kill you. It’s especially dangerous for children and older folks. Even though that sounds scary, don’t worry; we’re going to walk you through how to render this tender plant into something safe and delicious.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.