Pokeweed or Milkweed?: How to Tell the Difference

8/20/2019

Common plant names can be confusing, especially when you have Pokeweed and Poke Milkweed which look and sound alike but are not in the same plant family and serve very different uses.
Most importantly, Pokeweed is NOT a food source for Monarchs but Poke Milkweed IS.
To lessen the confusion, always go by the plant's scientific name. A scientific name is made up of two words. The first word indicates the plant genus and the second name indicates the plant species. For instance, let's take Asclepias tuberosa, or Butterfly Milkweed, and see what the name tells us. Asclepias is the genus that ALL milkweeds are in. Tuberosa indicates the species of milkweed within that genus.
Phytolacca americana, also known as American Pokeweed, is in the genus Phytolacca and the species is americana.
Now that we are all on the same page, we will show you other ways to tell these plants apart.

A method I like to use when identifying plants is called the Patterns Method which is demonstrated by Thomas J. Elpel in his book Botany in a Day (which I highly recommend). The image above shows you characteristics of plants within the Milkweed, or Asclepias, family.

Flowers of Pokeweed

The following photos will show you differences between Pokeweed and Poke Milkweed.

American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana).

Fruits of Pokeweed

As the fruits on Pokeweed ripen, the stem turns a bright reddish pink and the berries turn black.

Flowers of Poke Milkweed

Poke Milkweed has downward facing petals and the inflorescence (flower head) is more round rather than tubular.

Milkweed Fruits or Pods

Milkweeds do not have berries like Pokeweed but large pods that contain seeds.

American Pokeweed does not have petals that face downwards like many milkweeds do.

CAUTION: The berries of Pokeweed are extremely toxic and some people develop skin irritation just from touching the berries. Always use gloves when handling. These berries also provide a food source for songbirds who have immunity to the toxin.

Close-up image of Poke Milkweed

3 Comments

Maggie

8/21/2019 11:36:30 am

Should the Pokeweed be removed from my Monarch Rescue garden - it appeared on its own (I do not remember planting it).

Jos. Zebley

5/31/2021 11:42:10 am

Yes, by all means. Pokeweed, although native is quite invasive. It develops deep tap roots that can be very hard to dig up after a few years. The plant can cause skin sensitivity rashes and the berries are toxic. If you like baby poke leaf salad or have song birds that eat the berries (and spread seeds!) grow a patch of poke far away from your garden.

Gloria M. Mcgee

8/12/2021 08:28:48 am

A few years ago I became 'homebound', almost as limited as 'bed-ridden' as far as I was concerned. Like many of my older relatives. I carried on the landscape & knowledge of three (3) former generations. Going through the yard was the same as the interior of a home. Each room different following a basic theme. Mirrored French doors seemed to sit beside a tree & backdrop wildly growing vines. Many items of reflection yet the doors were not just for looks they opened to a path flanked by 6-7 different plants 7-12feet tall. Weeds as in poke can be beautiful when allowed to grow as nature intended. I found the lofty 'weeds' didn't spread much at all. The ironic thing is my large specialiy nursery owner cousin never realized what this area was mostly growing. If ask I would of loved to have discussed my weed room.. Being a snicky one, as lovers of 'only the most impressive of plants are. Poke also is a good supplier of a red dye... pigment. Gloves are a must.