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Phytolacca octandra

inkweed

Phytolaccaceae South and Central America

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Phytolacca octandra is a soft-wooded perennial herb or subshrub reaching 3-7 feet (1-2 m) tall, with reddish, fleshy, branching stems. Leaves are alternate, oval to lance-shaped, 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, with smooth margins and prominent veins. Small greenish-white to pinkish flowers without petals are borne in erect, narrow spikes 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, usually with eight stamens. The fruit is a flattened, ribbed berry about 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) across, ripening from green to purplish-black and containing a deep red-purple juice. Flowering and fruiting occur over much of the warm season. Growth is fast and plants self-seed prolifically, spread by birds that eat the fruit. All parts, especially the roots and unripe berries, contain saponins and oxalates that are toxic to humans and animals if eaten. The species is a widespread weed of disturbed ground, gardens, and pastures.

Native Range

Native to tropical and subtropical South and Central America. Introduced and naturalized as a weed in Australia, New Zealand, southern Africa, and other warm regions, where it grows on disturbed ground, roadsides, fence lines, and neglected gardens.

Suggested Uses

It is not cultivated as a garden plant and is managed as a weed across its naturalized range. Where it occurs, it grows on disturbed ground, fence lines, and neglected sites. The toxic berries and prolific seeding make it a target for removal in gardens and pastures.

How to Identify

Identified by reddish fleshy stems, oval leaves 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, and erect narrow spikes of small petalless greenish-white flowers, usually with eight stamens. The flattened, ribbed purplish-black berries with deep red-purple juice distinguish it from the related Phytolacca americana, which has larger, drooping clusters of rounded berries.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 7'

Width/Spread2' - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowers and fruits over much of the warm season, mainly spring through autumn. The small flowers in erect spikes are followed by green berries that ripen to purplish-black. In frost-free areas flowering can continue year-round.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

greenish-white to pink

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on a wide range of soils, including disturbed and fertile ground. It establishes quickly from seed and tolerates dry periods once established. The plant dies back after hard frost and resprouts from the rootstock in spring. All parts are toxic if eaten, and the berry juice stains skin and fabric. It self-seeds prolifically and is regarded as an environmental and agricultural weed in many regions. Few pests or diseases affect it.

Pruning

Cutting back or removing plants before the berries ripen limits seed spread by birds. The soft stems are easily cut, and plants resprout from the rootstock unless the root is removed. Spent top growth dies back after frost.

Pruning Schedule

summer