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Phytolacca americana L. var. americana
Pokeweed
American Pokeweed
Poke Sallet
Florida native
A common plant of disturbed sites, edge habitats, open areas and wastelands throughout the eastern half of the United States, westward across the southern states plus the west coast states. Pokeweed is also found in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Most, if not all, pokeweeds in Florida are the rigida.
This large herbaceous plant can reach 3m (10 ft.) tall and usually has purplish-red stems. The alternate leaves are entire and from 10-35cm (4 to 14 in.) long. The small white to pinkish flowers are in a raceme from 13-30cm (5-12 in.) long and often drooping. The fruit is a purple-black berry on pedicels longer than the size of the berry.
Phytolacca americana is a member of the Phytolaccaceae - Pokeweed family.
Other species of the Phytolacca genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Phytolacca americana var. rigida -
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Jun 07, 2026
