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Pokeweed identification?

Q:

My dog has been sick a few times and I found this plant with berries in my back yard. I am trying to identify it, but having trouble. Think it is a nightshade type but just does not look like examples on internet. Can you help?

A:

This is pokeweed. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans, pets and livestock.

Pokeweed has been used by Native American cultures in the Southeastern United States as a traditional food, dye and medicine. Pokeweed requires special preparation to remove toxins, and ingesting pokeweed is not advised.

Each leaf is 5–20 inches long and can contain purple and green berries and white or pink flowers. The leaves have an odor when crushed.

Pokeweed is invasive to our region and is spreading across the Pacific Northwest, especially in urban areas. If you have pokeweed on your property, you should report it. Learn more about how to report pokeweed and other solutions at our Solve Pest Problems website.

Related content

Solve Pest Problems

Learn research-based, safe, and effective tactics for common garden and property pests and weeds. We provide non-chemical methods alongside the most effective and least toxic chemical options available, to reduce risk to people and the environment. Solve Pest Problems is a partnership between OSU and Oregon stakeholders to provide a user-friendly online resource to help urban and rural property managers to solve pest problems.

Weston Miller | Oct 2022 | Online resource Peer reviewed (Gray level)

pints of berries
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