Phytolacca icosandra
Tropical pokeweed
(c) Neptalí Ramírez Marcial, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Phytolaccaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phytolacca icosandra (Tropical pokeweed) is a native California herb in the Phytolaccaceae family, recognized by spike inflorescence and geographic preference for southern regions.
Tropical pokeweed is a naturalized perennial found in San Diego County and on Otay Mountain in disturbed areas and chrome ore piles at elevations of 10 to 400 meters. Flowering from summer to winter, this plant produces white or pink to pale reddish flowers in spikes up to 30 centimeters long. Growing up to 3 meters tall with multiple stems, it develops a robust and spreading habit. Its large leaves are elliptic to obovate, measuring up to 30 centimeters long and 15 centimeters wide, with petioles ranging from 0.5 to 6 centimeters. The fruit is a distinctive purple-black berry approximately 7 to 8 millimeters in diameter, containing shiny black seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by spike inflorescence and geographic preference for southern regions
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, chrome ore piles
Elevation: 10-400 m
Outside California: Arizona, Maryland, northern Mexico to northern South America
Bloom period
Phytolacca icosandra blooms Summer-winter.
How to tell it apart
vs Nicotiana: Pokeweed has dense flower spikes and purple berries; tobacco has tubular flowers and dry capsules.; vs Persicaria: Pokeweed grows to 10 feet with huge leaves; smartweed is typically low-growing with much smaller leaves.; vs Prunus: Pokeweed has herbaceous stems and berry spikes; cherries are woody with single-stoned fruits.; vs Amaranthus: Pokeweed has broad prominently-veined leaves; amaranth has narrower leaves with less prominent veins.; vs Rumex: Pokeweed has broad oval leaves and purple berries; dock has lance-shaped leaves and papery winged fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phytolacca icosandra native to California?
Yes. Phytolacca icosandra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phytolacca icosandra bloom?
Phytolacca icosandra blooms Summer-winter.
What plant family does Phytolacca icosandra belong to?
Phytolacca icosandra is in the Phytolaccaceae family, genus Phytolacca.
What habitat does Phytolacca icosandra grow in?
Phytolacca icosandra grows in Disturbed areas, chrome ore piles.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.