Quick Scoop

Poke berries are the dark purple-to-black berries of the pokeweed plant, a tall wild plant found in parts of North America. They’re best known for being **toxic to people and pets when eaten raw** , even though birds can eat them and help spread the seeds.

What they are

Pokeweed, also called American pokeweed or pokeberry, is a herbaceous perennial that can grow several feet tall and produces clusters of berries as the season progresses. The berries are glossy, purple- black, and often mistaken for edible fruit because they look a bit like grapes.

Safety

All parts of the plant can be harmful, and eating the berries can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Public health sources warn that serious cases can also involve low blood pressure and more severe illness.

People and wildlife

Birds commonly eat poke berries without the same effects humans get, which is one reason the plant spreads so easily. In some traditional food practices, young poke leaves are cooked carefully for “poke sallet,” but the berries themselves are not something to eat casually.

Bottom line

If you see poke berries in the wild, it’s safest to treat them as **look-but-don’t-eat** plants. If someone has eaten them, poison- control guidance recommends getting medical advice right away.