IPM; Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, an Important IPM Plant Protecting Hemp and Vegetable Crops

 Phytolacca americana, also known as pokeweed, poke sallet, or poke salad, is a perennial plant native to the eastern United States. It's known for its large, smooth leaves, clusters of dark berries, and distinct red stems. We welcome pokeweed plants and always invite them to grow in the hemp and vegetable gardens because of important roles pokeweed plays in our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan.

One of our FAMU pilot varieties of hemp, growing near a large pokeweed plant.

Pesky bugs will usually choose a pokeweed leaf over just about any other plant. Pokeweed's lure and trap capabilities have earned it a reputation as an important Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan component.

Another potential benefit is that pokeweed can attract birds due to its berries. Birds play a crucial role in pest control, as they eat many types of insects. So, having pokeweed in your garden may draw birds that will feed on your pest population. However, be aware that the berries are toxic to mammals, including humans. We have also noticed that because pokeweed's leaves are rather large, pest insects, Southern Armyworm, Spodoptera eridana and other caterpillars make easy forage targets for our bluebird, nuthatch, finch and wren populations.

Yes, if certain pests in your local area are more attracted to pokeweed than to other plants, they may congregate on the pokeweed, reducing their numbers on more valuable plants. The efficacy of this would depend on the specific pests in question and their feeding preferences. We find that the armyworms love to forage on our pokeweed plants leaves. While these caterpillars are devouring pokeweed leaves they are not eating our other garden plants, including our hemp and they are becoming meals themselves for foraging songbirds.

Another pokeweed plant in the hemp garden, its leaves eaten by insect pests.

Pokeweed is a common plant native to the eastern parts of North America. It has distinctive red stems and produces dark purple berries that are attractive to many bird species. As for why garden insects are drawn to pokeweed, a few factors could be at play:

1. Plant Chemistry: Like many plants, pokeweed has a unique chemical makeup that can attract certain insects. It's possible that some insects are attracted to particular compounds in pokeweed, whether for food, a place to lay eggs, or another purpose. For instance, pokeweed produces toxic compounds, such as saponins and oxalates, which deter many herbivores but may not deter certain insects adapted to handle these toxins.

2. Leaf Characteristics: Pokeweed has large, soft leaves, which may be easier for certain insects to eat compared to tougher, smaller leaves on other plants.

3. Availability and Accessibility: Pokeweed is a vigorous grower and can produce large quantities of leaves and berries, making it an abundant food source for insects. Its size and growth habit also make it accessible to a wide range of insects.

4. Species-Specific Relationships: Some insect species may have developed a preference or even a dependence on pokeweed through co-evolution, much like monarch butterflies and milkweed. For example, the pokeweed leaffooted bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus) is known to feed on pokeweed.

However, using pokeweed as a trap crop can have some downsides. For example, if the pests are not adequately controlled on the pokeweed, it could become a breeding ground that exacerbates the pest problem. Moreover, pokeweed is a vigorous plant that can become aggressive in its growing habit if not carefully managed. Also, as previously mentioned, all parts of the plant are toxic to mammals when raw and can be dangerous if consumed.

We are convinced that the pokeweed plants growing alongside our garden vegetables, wildflowers and hemp plants offer important IPM benefits as pest insect trap plants. We always remember to treat pokeweed with care because of the plant's toxicity. Importantly, before deciding to use pokeweed as a lure or trap crop, it would be wise to conduct a thorough assessment of your garden's needs and the local pest and wildlife populations. Consulting with a local extension service or a pest management professional could provide valuable insights.

Remember, successful integrated pest management usually involves a combination of techniques, including biological control, use of resistant plant varieties, and crop rotation. A single plant species is unlikely to solve all pest problems yet pokeweed has demonstrated it can lure our garden's pest insects away from our important crops to pokeweed's broad leaves where songbirds and anoles then treat the pest insects as food.