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Phytolacca americana

American Nightshade · American Pokeweed · American Spinach

Family PhytolaccaceaeGenus Phytolacca

Drooping clusters of berries, pale green ripening through pink to near black, on bright magenta stalks under blue sky.
FruitHuw Williams (Huwmanbeing)Public domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
4-10 ft1.2-3 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
3-5 ft0.9-1.5 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Green, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 16, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 9 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5, in 16 days.

70% germination in 5–16 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Phytolacca p. 193Public domain
Show the original text
Phytolacca (Phytolaccaceae). . P. americana seed was WC 7 d. Germination was best with seed DS 6 m at 70 or4O in 40-70(70-80% in 5-16 d). Germination failed for seed sown at 70(1% in 5th cycle) or for fresh seed in either 70- 40 or 40-70 treatment. Seed stored in the WC state or in the dried fruit gave the same results. GA-3 did not initiate germination at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Phytolacca p. 193. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

7 days from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

1% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Phytolacca p. 193Public domain
Show the original text
Phytolacca (Phytolaccaceae). . P. americana seed was WC 7 d. Germination was best with seed DS 6 m at 70 or4O in 40-70(70-80% in 5-16 d). Germination failed for seed sown at 70(1% in 5th cycle) or for fresh seed in either 70- 40 or 40-70 treatment. Seed stored in the WC state or in the dried fruit gave the same results. GA-3 did not initiate germination at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Phytolacca p. 193. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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