tall, green leaves, red stalk, white flowers, green "fr I live near a wooded area, and this fascinating plant is spreading around my driveway. I would love to know it's name. There is one that is roughly 4' tall and another that's only about 18". The stems are red like rhubarb, solid green leaves, and small white flowers at the tips that turn into those green nodules. ( photo / image / picture from luna_vigilo's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from luna_vigilo's Garden )
Phytolacca americana (American Pokeweed ) The green berries will turn a dark purple in the fall and birds love them. The leaves can be eaten but it takes some special directions to make them non-toxic.
Looks like poke weed ! Lucky you ! Leaves are boiled about 20 to 30 minutes, drained and then fried in a bit of oil. We have it growing here and it is delicious. Tender young stalks can be peeled and steamed like asparagus or sliced and fried like okra. Birds love the seeds/berries when they turn purple and then spread them wherever they rest. People used to think the plant was poison but it isn`t. I have eaten it all ways possible. Always let at least one plant go to seed and you will have a ready supply. It usually comes back every year. Don`t pull it up just harvest the leaves or cut the stalks a few inches from the ground and it will keep producing new leaves. Some of the stalks can be red, others will stay green. The red ones unless young can be a bit tough. Depends on the weather and plant age if they are red or green.
Its a staple in our kitchen ! I wilt and freeze it for winter. Its the only dark green vegetable that hubby will eat. We saute it in a bit of bacon greese and just before its ready break a couple of eggs into the skillet and cook till eggs are firm. Add cornbread and eat. Excellent !
I live in the Toronto area and have had this plant growing at the side of the house for the past 3 years coming up new every spring. It is now over 10 feet tall. I wouldn't have thought that pokeweed could grow this far north.
The dish is called poke salet, but that sounds like salad, so that spelling is getting used more and more. http://www.eattheweeds.com/can-be-deadl ... okeweed-2/
