Species guide
American pokeweed
Toxic if eatenPhytolacca americana
How to recognise it
A large plant with smooth reddish-purple stems, big oval leaves, and drooping clusters of glossy dark-purple berries in late summer.
Is it dangerous?
All parts are poisonous if eaten — the root and berries most of all. The attractive berries are a particular risk to children.
Commonly confused with
- Elderberry — woody shrub with flat-topped berry clusters
What to do
Keep children and pets away, and wear gloves to remove it. Seek medical care if any part is eaten.
Never decide what's safe to eat or touch from a photo or a web page. Identification here is for learning and curiosity only. For anything you might eat, handle or that could harm you or a pet, consult a qualified local expert — and seek medical or veterinary care if exposure has happened.
Recorded 194,175 times in the wild worldwide.
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