(Plytolacca americana)
Pokeweed, American Nightshade, Pocan Bush
Found in the Eastern half of the U.S. as far West as Texas.Once the plant is established, it regrows each year.
Each plant can produce up to 45,000 seeds per year.
It can remain viable in the soil for over 40 years.
All parts of the plant contain saponins, oxalates and phytolacine and are toxic,the root and seed being the most toxic.
The fruit with seeds removed are no longer toxic.
If cooking the plant itself, it must be boiled, drained with water discarded after each time and this is to be done three times before using. You can eat the stalk like asparagus and the leaves are good in poke salad:)
The seeds removed, the fruit boiled, 
and Pokeberry jelly is made.
Mixed with apple juice and lemon juice,
it makes a delicious Mixed Berry Jelly.
Posted by: Liv
The fruit with seeds removed are no longer toxic.If cooking the plant itself, it must be boiled, drained with water discarded after each time and this is to be done three times before using. You can eat the stalk like asparagus and the leaves are good in poke salad:)
Medicinal uses include: Inflammation of the tonsils, Laryngitis, Rheumatism, Skin infections due to bacteria and fungi, upper respiratory infections, skin ulcers, etc.
The seeds removed, the fruit boiled, and Pokeberry jelly is made.
Mixed with apple juice and lemon juice,it makes a delicious Mixed Berry Jelly.
Posted by: Liv
13 comments:
That jelly looks great! I just love making jelly out of unusual, native type plants. You can count on the Pollocks to get it done!
I enjoyed the info on it as well.
In Christ,
Mrs. Stricklen
Yum, yum! What I've always wondered is how the old-timers knew to boil the plant three times so they wouldn't get poisoned??? I certainly hope it wasn't trial and error!!!
Thanks for an enjoyable post!
Katie
What a neat post, Olivia! I'm really proud of the way you take on projects and accomplish them! That's such a great skill to know how to use native plants.
Love,
Mrs. Discher
Yes, well, I would probably poison my family before getting the recipe right! :)
Looks yummy though.
Looks good!
I love the Medicinal Uses...sounds wonderful...=)
Oh! Just thought I'd say, I love your polka-dotted tea kettle!
Blessings,
Olivia
Yum..lokks good, I love canning, We are in the midst of canning tomato's. Miss y'all.
Angelina
Just had to say we loved your polka dotted kettle as well!
BTW, we made some elderberry jam from some wild elderberries not long ago and it turned out very nicely :)
Love,
Mrs. Stricklen
Molly and Livy, Liv found me that wonderful tea kettle at a yard sale for $1.00. I love anything with polka dots, and especially bright colors.
Btw: Molly, we'll trade you some pokeberry jelly for some elderberry jam. We've never had that and would love to try it.
Katie, We knew a family that would cook the leaves in their eggs and they're still around, so maybe once you cook it some, it's not as toxic. The leaves aren't as toxic as the root and seeds.
We have in the back yard here in Bonsack, VA part of the Blue Ridge, what may be the pokeberries ripening or maybe elderberries. How do you tell the difference? I want to make elderberry cordial for Halloween fiesta so if I make poleberry cardial I'll have to remove the seeds first? I'd have to remove the seeds of the elderberries also (?) so it's not much difference. Please post an answer if you can. Thanks for a great site my 90 year old mother is enjoying it now.
The easiest way to tell the difference is Poke berries have a central stem on the fruit cluster, but elderberries usually have a cluster that looks like a multi-branched tree (like a bunch of grapes does). There are some good pictures on the internet.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but all of those out there that hear 'poisonous' and shy away from poke berries are missing a real treat. The fruit-punch/tuti-fruity flavor is more than worth the work separating out the stems and seeds.
A note: After you make sure you've removed all of the stems (mandatory) don't use a mechanical strainer or juicer to separate those seeds, just do it the old fashioned way with a potato masher in a dutch oven or stock pot over a low heat. The seeds ARE poisonous, and any pieces that get ground off in a 'crank-strainer', juicer, or food processor release the toxins into the pulp. But they're hard little critters, and you'd have to really get carried away to break them with a potato masher. Use some cheesecloth or a jelly bag to strain the pulp through and make sure the seeds are gone... and enjoy.
(Don't expect the raw fruit pulp to taste good... but the jellies and syrup are great so don't throw out a 'spoiled' batch that's really just fine!)
The Jelly Guy in Virginia
Anonymous, Ditto on the "Jelly Guys" answer. Yes, you do have to remove the seed. And if you go to Google Images and type in Pokeberry, there's some good pics to help you identify the plant.
Thanks for commenting:)
Liv:)
I have been trying to figure out forever what that plant was called! I had heard it was poiseness, so I didn't want it in my yard. I killed it. I was shocked to see you making jam out of it! Amazing!!!
So excited to harvest pokeberry tomorrow! My neighbor identified it as inkberry and said the Indians used it as a dye, but not to eat the berries bc they were poisonous. Totally stoked to play with pokeweed now! It is EVERYWHERE! Thanks.
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