Report #1036 - Report: American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) on Jul 13, 2012

Submitter has sample
EDRR Status: Local expert notified

Description of specimen

four foot tall pokeweed.

Commentary

It won't let me add an image. I already submitted the pictures to OSU. OSU told me it was a pokeweed and said I should report it. The pictures are here:

http://www.extension.org/ask/ef38f6f87cd319fb3f94da4b681e61e8

I guess I'll be getting rid of it. Didn't know it had long taproots. Makes sense though since it needed a lot of water last year and seems to need no water this year. So I guess the question is - what's the best way to get rid of it?

Thank you! Colleen Vaughn (503) 788-6928

Reporter
July 13, 2012, 1:29 a.m.

Hi, Colleen. Thanks for your email. The best way to deal with pokeweed, I suspect, is to keep cutting it down when it gets to 3-4' tall (like now), or whenever the flowers first start appearing. That will start exhausting the roots. The other great thing about cutting at this stage is that the stems are fine in yard debris. Berries and roots, if you choose to dig, should NOT go in the yard debris (trash only), on the off-chance they start a new infestation elsewhere.

If your poke weed is in some hard-to-reach place, send me an email (mitch.bixby@portlandoregon.gov) and we can talk about herbicide options. We've done some trials and can guide you through what we think are the better options.

Have a good week!

-Mitch

Mitch Bixby
July 18, 2012, 2:19 a.m.

Remedy

American pokeweed is an herbaceous perennial plant—above-ground stems die back completely each year but below-ground roots remain and can be very large, allowing plants to persist for years. Therefore, the entire root must be killed or removed, although getting every root fragment every year is nearly impossible. Expect full eradication to take 3-5 years. Also, be aware that pokeweed can make you sick if ingested, with roots most likely to be fatal.

Management comments: --Small infestations (few plants): If possible, dig entire root and throw in garbage, not compost. --Medium to large infestations (many plants): Dig roots, if possible. If not, apply herbicide in spring to early summer shortly after plants appear above ground. Carefully check label recommendations for safe and legally allowable volumes of herbicide you can apply. --In late summer and fall, plants will have purple to black fleshy fruits containing seeds. Herbicide application can be quite effective in late summer and early fall.
--In all cases, cut fruit-bearing stems and dispose of in the garbage, not compost. This prevents the berries from making new plants.

NOTE: Remember where the plant is! When it reappears in the spring, you can start working on it while the soil is still wet.

American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) on Jul 13, 2012

Description of specimen

Commentary

Remedy

Resources

Location

Expert Reviewer