code: 683
The mid green leaves have white veining
Common name: Red-ink Plant, Indian Pokeweed, Phytolacca esculenta, Himalayan Pokeweed
Plant Classification: Half hardy perennial
Minimum Height: 1.2 meters
Maximum Height: 2.0 meters
Packet Content(approx.): 8
A white flowering perennial plant with large oval shaped leaves and white flowers appearing in July to August which are much loved by nectar seekers. Unlike the native American Pokeberry, this species is not invasive and holds its flowers and berry clusters upright. The striking clusters of shiny, purple berries look like shiny black pearls and are much loved by birds. The mid green leaves have white veining and pink pigmentation, which only darkens in the flowering stems when berries are forming. It is tolerant of any type of soil.
Sowing advice:
For best results, sow seeds immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. However, we sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, and often wait for spring before emerging regardless of when they are sown. But spring sowing will obviously give them a full season of growth if successful germination occurs.
| Known Hazards | The leaves are poisonous. They are said to be safe to eat when young, the toxins developing as they grow older. According to another report it is only a form with reddish purple flowers and a purple root that is poisonous. |
| Habitats | Valleys, hillsides, forest understories, forest margins and roadsides at elevations of 500 – 3400 metres. It is also found in cultivated land houses, moist fertile lands and as a weed. |
| Range | E. Asia – China to India. |
