Found in meadows and waysides, from July to September.

A plant, from 5 to 9 feet high, with many branches and leaves; the stalk is stout, and large (from 1 to 2, or more, inches in diameter), and round; it is hard-fibred and smooth; in color a dull crimson.

The large leaf is oval, tapering to the tip, and set on a very short stem; the texture is exceedingly fine, and smooth, and the color a rather dark and grave green. The arrangement is alternate.

The small 5-parted flower is white, tinted on the outside with crimson; the seed-box in the center is green. The flowers, on short, pale crimson foot-stems, grow in elongated terminal clusters upon crimson stems.

The blossoms begin to open at the base of the cluster and continue upward, leaving behind the partly formed berries; when ripe they form a cluster of blue-black fruit, smooth-skinned, and with an abundant crimson juice. The Pokeberry is a plant of homely gesture and a rather strong odor, redeemed by its luxuriant growth, and the fine quality of its foliage. The berries are favorites of children who squeeze them to use their deep magenta-crimson juice for writing and painting and dyeing purposes.