Pokeweed, also known as poke sallet or poke salad, is a common weed that grows in many parts of the United States. Though pokeweed is native to the Midwest and Eastern states, it can be found growing in yards, gardens, and disturbed areas nationwide. Learning how to identify pokeweed and properly remove it is important for keeping your lawn and garden free of this aggressive invader.
What Is Pokeweed?
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is a large, bushy perennial plant that can frequently reach heights of 8 to 12 feet. Though sometimes confused with giant ragweed or other weeds, pokeweed can be easily identified by its reddish-purple stems, simple alternate leaves, and long clusters of dark berry-like fruit.
Pokeweed emerges in spring as a small shoot and grows rapidly throughout summer, forming thick stems and large, oval-shaped leaves up to 12 inches long. The leaves are smooth, green, and arranged alternately along the red-tinged stems.
In mid-summer, pokeweed produces clusters of small white flowers on long drooping spikes. These flowers give way to shiny dark purple berries in late summer and fall. Though the berries resemble grapes or currants, they are poisonous to humans. However, birds enjoy eating the berries and readily spread the seeds, leading to new pokeweed growth.
All parts of the pokeweed plant, including the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and berries, contain a toxic compound called pokeweed mitogen. This toxin causes poisoning if eaten, so pokeweed should never be consumed. The young leaves can only be eaten after thorough boiling to remove the toxins.
Where Does Pokeweed Grow?
Pokeweed thrives in a wide range of conditions, enabling it to invade gardens, lawns, fields, and other disturbed areas. You may find pokeweed growing in these locations:
- Open fields, pastures, meadows, and prairies
- Roadsides, ditches, and vacant lots
- Edge areas between woods and clearings
- Gardens and landscaped areas
- Along fencerows and hedgerows
- Riverbanks and floodplains
Pokeweed does best in full sun and moist, rich soil. It can grow in partial shade but tends to become spindly and flop over. Pokeweed will tolerate drought but prefers consistent moisture for optimal growth.
The seeds are easily dispersed by birds and can also travel long distances via waterways. Pokeweed will frequently appear in newly disturbed areas, gardens, and lawns where the soil has been tilled. Care must be taken to remove young shoots before they become large plants.
Why Is Pokeweed a Problem?
Though pokeweed is sometimes planted ornamentally for its attractive berries and foliage, it is much more likely to appear as an unwelcome intruder. Here are some reasons why pokeweed can be a nuisance:
- Fast growth: Pokeweed emerges early in spring and can grow up to 8 inches per week. If not promptly removed, it quickly becomes a large, difficult to control weed.
- Crowding: The dense growth shades out and competes with desirable plants, reducing yields in gardens. Pokeweed takes over open areas rapidly.
- Spreading roots: The taproot can grow to over 2 feet deep while lateral roots spread rapidly. Any root fragments left behind give rise to new plants.
- Toxicity: All plant parts are toxic to humans and livestock. Children or pets ingesting pokeweed can become seriously ill.
- Difficult removal: The deep taproot makes mature pokeweed hard to eliminate. The plant easily resprouts if roots remain in the ground.
How to Identify Pokeweed
Being able to accurately identify pokeweed is the first step in controlling this aggressive perennial weed. Here are the key traits that set pokeweed apart from other weeds:
Reddish Stems
The smooth, round stems of pokeweed emerge reddish-purple in color, later fading to greenish. Mature plants develop thick, hollow stems with a diameter over 1 inch. No other common weeds have similar red-tinged stems.
Alternate Leaves
Pokeweed leaves are alternately arranged along the stem, each attached individually with its own leaf stalk (petiole). The leaves are smooth edged and oval or pointed in shape.
White Flower Clusters
From mid-summer onward, pokeweed produces conical flower spikes 3-8 inches long containing clusters of small white flowers with 5 petals. The drooping spikes arise from the junction between the leaf petiole and stem.
Shiny Purple Berries
The green berries ripen to a dark, shiny purple-black in late summer. Each berry cluster can contain hundreds of individual fruits. Birds readily consume the berries, dispersing the seeds widely.
With its distinctive growth habit, pokeweed is easy to recognize. Simply looking for the combination of red stems, alternate leaves, white flowers, and purple berries is usually sufficient to identify pokeweed.
How to Get Rid of Pokeweed
Eliminating pokeweed requires determination and persistence. Here are some methods for successfully controlling and removing pokeweed:
Hand Pull Small Plants
For young pokeweed plants under 2 feet tall, hand pulling is an effective option. Wearing gloves, grasp the base of the plant near the root and pull firmly and slowly. The goal is to extract as much of the taproot as possible, so loosen the surrounding soil with a trowel or shovel first if needed.
Cut and Bag Flower Stalks
To prevent spread of seeds, cut off any flowering spikes once they appear mid-summer. Using loppers or pruning shears, cut the stalks as low to the ground as possible. Place the cut spikes in bags and dispose of them in the trash, not the compost pile.
Frequent Mowing/String Trimming
For dense infestations, mowing or string trimming every 2-3 weeks can control growth and prevent berry production. Avoid allowing seeds to form. Be sure to collect and bag all clippings. Repeat cutting throughout the season.
Apply Herbicide to Foliage
Systemic broadleaf weed killers containing glyphosate or triclopyr can be sprayed on the leaves to kill pokeweed. Treat when the plants are actively growing. It will take at least two applications to fully kill the root system.
Dig Out Roots
For large plants, the most effective control method is to dig or pull out the entire root system. Use a shovel, trowel or soil fork to loosen the soil down 8-12 inches around the base of the plant. Then grasp the stem near ground level and slowly pull while rocking back and forth to extract as much of the taproot as possible.
Repeat Treatment in Spring
Some roots inevitably get left behind when digging out pokeweed. Mark any areas where you remove plants and check frequently in spring for any new shoots emerging from remaining roots. Promptly dig out, prune or treat any regrowth before it gets large.
It often takes persistence over several seasons to fully eliminate pokeweed from an area. But with diligence and repeated removal of plants and roots, plus preventing any seed formation, you can get rid of pokeweed and keep it from returning.
Common Questions About Pokeweed
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about identifying and controlling this invasive weed.
How can I tell pokeweed apart from other weeds?
Look for the combination of reddish stems, alternating simple leaves with smooth edges, clusters of white flowers in summer followed by shiny purple berries in late summer and fall. No other common weeds have this same appearance.
What type of root system does pokeweed have?
Pokeweed has a large central taproot that can grow 2-4 feet deep into the soil, with some lateral roots extending outward. Any root fragments left behind can give rise to new plants.
How long do pokeweed plants live?
Individual pokeweed plants are perennial and can live for many years if the roots remain intact. Seeds also maintain high viability in the soil for up to 40 years, allowing new generations of pokeweed to emerge over time.
Why does pokeweed keep coming back after I pull it out?
The deep taproot and spreading lateral roots enable pokeweed to easily regenerate from root fragments left behind in the soil. Repeated pulling or digging is needed to extract all the roots and eradicate the plant.
Is it OK to compost pokeweed plants?
No, do not add any parts of the pokeweed plant to compost piles. The seeds can remain viable and be spread when the compost is used. Place all plant parts in bags for disposal rather than composting.
How can I prevent pokeweed from invading my yard?
Eliminate any plants promptly when young and prevent seeds from forming. Also avoid disturbing soil in areas where pokeweed has grown previously. Discard any weed-infested soil or plant debris rather than reusing onsite.
Conclusion
Left unchecked, pokeweed will rapidly spread and take over any disturbed open areas. Identifying pokeweed by its reddish stems, alternate leaves, white flower spikes and shiny purple berries is the first step in controlling this aggressive invader. Hand pulling small plants, repeatedly cutting or mowing larger plants, applying herbicides and digging out the deep taproot can all help eliminate pokeweed. But persistence is needed, as the plants easily regenerate from any remaining roots. By taking an integrated approach and preventing any seeds from forming, you can get rid of pokeweed and keep it from returning. With vigilance, you can keep pokeweed from spreading and create a yard and garden free of this invasive plant.