The Historic District

When we bought our house, we were blessed with beautiful, established gardens throughout the side and back yards. I am SO not a gardener, but I am trying to learn, and have been working hard to at least maintain them. This year, this "mystery (at least to me) plant" appeared over in the herb garden. It wasn't there last year. It's huge and I have no clue what it could be! If anyone can help identify, I would so greatly appreciate it.

It's pokeweed, Phytolacca americana. Wikipedia has a good entry on it.

You can post garden questions in Park Avenue. "Park" - get it? They're so clever here...

Thank you so much! I was going nuts, trying to find it through google. Used every search term I could think of!

perennial weed which freely reproduces. Has a taproot that has to be dug out. purple berries stain clothes, skin.
Casey

Thank you Casey! They must have cut it down last yr., right before we moved in because it wasn't there when we got the house. Not sure if we'll try to dig it out, or just keep cutting it down.

It's not that hard to dig out; sometimes the root will even come out with a good tug. Then you're done - until the birds deliver more. Pokeweed isn't aggressive like Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica). This is one of those weeds whose life I may spare - if it's not in a terribly awkward place - for its ornamental value.

Unfortunately, it is in an awkward place. Otherwise I agree . it's a very pretty weed!

Don't worry, there will be another one.

Okay. So I don't need to ask what this is:



But now I know I don't want it.

"Weed" is a flexible designation. If you like it, it's not a weed.