One of the more conspicuous plants in the early autumn landscape is pokeweed. Growing in small stands or as scattered, individual plants, they are identified by their racemes of blue-black berries on plastic-pink stems and their large, drooping leaves that alternate from a thick, light-weight stalk. Sun-loving, pokeweed is most often found along fence lines or at the border of fields and woodlands.
The plant's tender, green, spring vegetation is edible if boiled twice to remove toxins. However, as the plant matures, the stalk and leaves take on a reddish tinge; by that time, the entire plant (including the berries and roots) is toxic to mammals (which, of course, includes us). Birds, immune to the toxin, love the berries and spread them by seeds passed in their droppings; cardinals are especially fond of this fruit.
Pokeweed, also known as inkberry, was once used by Native Americans to produce a dark-red, ceremonial dye. Today, it colors our landscape with its flowers, foliage and berries (and with the birds that stop to enjoy its bounty).
