Phytolacca americana
Archive entry 08.09.13
31st August 2013
A vigorous perennial that I have lurking on the north side of a Lawsons Cypress where it peers around the corner to the sun
and looks slightly sinister. Eventually the Lawsons will come out and the Phytolacca will get the full benefit of the sun.
Native to eastern North America but introduced quite widely in other regions. The foliage and stems are toxic, though birds have been reported to eat the berries, supposedly
without harm. I doubt that researchers followed the birds to see if they dropped dead an hour later!
9th September 2016