Comments on Ecological Gardening: Problematic Pokeweed

Adrian you are absolutely right. The "ponticu...

2011-07-20T22:43:55.945-07:00

Adrian you are absolutely right. The "ponticum" type of rhododendron is very invasive especially on the west coast. A lot of time and money is spent trying to eradicate it. Nothing grows underneath it and it spreads and spreads. Pretty flowers though.

Hi margaretart, Thanks for stopping by. A whole li...

2011-07-17T06:15:27.244-07:00

Hi margaretart, Thanks for stopping by. A whole lifetime's worth of learning, I think.

Really fascinating. So many things we don't kn...

2011-07-16T15:35:22.031-07:00

Really fascinating. So many things we don't know and should learn about all of these native plants---the sooner, the better. And told in an interesting way, I must add.

Janet, there are ornamental hybrids, and pokeweed...

2011-07-16T07:26:32.722-07:00

Janet,
there are ornamental hybrids, and pokeweed varieties are native to regions around the world. Do you have invasive rhododendrons from North America? I've heard we've sent some over there and people go "rhody bashing," the way we chop buckthorn. But perhaps my geography is confused.

Loret,
Glad you have the room. I wonder which makes the best ink? I

NellJean, she must have cooked it correctly. Your ...

2011-07-16T07:22:51.167-07:00

NellJean, she must have cooked it correctly. Your comment reminds me of the old British victory garden slogan: "Dig, dig dig! and your muscles will grow big!"

Andy, I'd love to know how the berries were involved in the stories--as food? ammunition? spell casting devices?

I was thrilled about three weeks ago to see pokewe...

2011-07-16T06:26:26.846-07:00

I was thrilled about three weeks ago to see pokeweed appear in my garden, having been planted by a bird. I have plenty of room for it. We use it to make inks for use by the kids at our outreach programs. They draw on papers to make bookmarks using quills and pokeberry (or inkberry or mulberry) inks.

What a fascinating post! Could this be the same po...

2011-07-15T23:38:30.467-07:00

What a fascinating post! Could this be the same pokeweed that is grown as an ornamental over here? It doesn't seem to be invasive in our climate. A fiend has promised me one from his garden for the back of the border. I shall still accept but treat it with respect (like all plants)

I've always liked pokeweed, though I've ne...

2011-07-15T17:49:45.387-07:00

I've always liked pokeweed, though I've never eaten any of it. In fact, purple pokeweed berries figured importantly in a few of the bedtime stories that I used to tell my boys about Pedro the Purple Salamander. But your talk of taproots prompted me to go tug out the one that had suddenly sprouted among the summer squash.

Dig, dig, dig, Pull, pull, pull. I have eaten it....

2011-07-15T17:22:35.929-07:00

Dig, dig, dig, Pull, pull, pull.

I have eaten it. Mama always gathered some young leaves to cook early in the spring. Spinach is much tastier and safer.