Family: Phytolaccaceae

Origin: S & E USA

A handsome herbaceous perennial which grows up to 4 m tall; its leaves become red-tinted in early autumn, and it produces spikes, up to 20 cm tall, covered with small, whitish, star-shaped flowers. From these develop many berries, which are at first glossy and green, and gradually change to purple-black, with a dark red juice, and the whole spike bends over with their weight.

Introduced in 1768.

The name of the genus is derived from phyton, Greek for a plant, and lac, French for lake, which is a red pigment – because of the red juice from the berries.

Both roots and berries are poisonous.