10 Phytolacca americana - American Pokeweed - Perennial Medicinal Edible Herb Seeds

Phytolacca americana Seeds

Common Names: American pokeweed, American nightshade, American Spinach, Bear's Grape, Branching Phytolacca, Cancer Jalap, Chongras, Chui Xu Shang Lu, Coakum, Coakum-Chorngras, Cokan, Crowberry, Fitolaca, Garget, Hierba Carmin, Inkberry, Jalap, Kermesbeere, Phytolacca Berry, Phytolacca americana, Phytolacca decandra, Pigeonberry, Pocan, Poke, Poke Root, Pokeweed berry, Pokeweed root, Raisin d'Amerique, Red-Ink Plant, Red Plant, Red Weed, Scoke, Skoke, Teinturiere, Virginian Poke

American Pokeweed is a large herbaceous perennial plant, native to eastern North America, growing up to 10 feet (3 meters), but is usually less than 4 feet. Plant dies back to roots each winter.

The plant has a large white taproot, green or red stems, and large, simple leaves. The stem is often red as the plant matures. White flowers, which first appear in early summer and continue into early autumn, are followed by purple to almost black berries.

Adapted to coarse or fine soils with moderate moisture, growing well in sun or shade.

The berries are a good food source for songbirds such as Northern Cardinal, Brown Thrasher, and Northern Mockingbird.

The leaves of young plants are sometimes collected as a spring green potherb and eaten after repeated blanchings, the end result being called poke salat. Shoots are also blanched with several changes of water and eaten as a substitute for asparagus. They become cathartic as they advance to maturity. The cooked greens are sold commercially in the South.

Historically, medicinal uses included the treatment of syphilis, diphtheria, conjunctivitis, cancer, adenitis and emesis or as a purgative. Used topically for scabies. Heroic and toxic class herb which requires professional training.

Warning: Some parts Of This Plant Are Highly Toxic To Livestock And Humans.

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