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Friend or foe?
I have an American Poke Weed in my garden which is a very handsome plant but toxic. It is the only one in the neighbourhood and non of my gardening friends have seen one before. How did it get to be in my patch and should I regard it as a unique novelty or an evil usurper?
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Sorry, neither unique, or evil.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Here's a link to a query about it last August.
Berghill shared some info on it's toxicity.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/can-anyone-tell-me-what-this-is-please-and-is-it-ok-to-eat/986896.html
I've been growing what I thought was Phytolacca americana for about 20 years. Last year I realised it was Phytolacca acinosa.
can't remember where the seeds came from or I'd ask for my money back. Though I may have a better plant, much more upright.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Good spot nut ?
Checked out your acinosa "Indian pokeweed" vs "American pokeweed"
Quick Google found this...
http://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Phytolacca+acinosa
Toxic!!!!
Anyone with a pokeweed should check the leaves before eating them.
I think Philippa may have had the Indian one, and that's why I said the leaves looked different. Hope she didn't eat it.
My memory for these things is poor but I think I may have sent Philippa the seeds for that
I doubt if she's eating it, I'm certainly not.
Last edited: 16 February 2017 08:08:47
In the sticks near Peterborough
There is a big difference between eating a plant, and simply growing it.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border