Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Usually 2 feet tall, but occasionally exceeds 3 feet.
Leaf: Bright yellow-green
Flower: Flowers 3/4 inch
Fruit: Black, Blue A quarter inch to a half inch.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: Flowers typically pale green to white.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV , WY
Canada: MB , NB , NS , ON , QC
Native Distribution: Southern Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, south to FL and TX, up the Connecticut R. valley, s. MI, MN, & ND
Native Habitat: Rich, dry to moist woods; thickets; calcareous hammocks

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Moist, rich, acid soils, though also occurs in calcareous areas. Prefers high humus. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay.
Conditions Comments: Does best in rich woodland soil but quite versatile and will do well at the base of trees.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: An understory plant used in eastern North America for its arching stems and attractive leaves.
Use Wildlife: Roots consumed by mammals. Fruits attract birds.
Use Food: EDIBLE PARTS / PREPARATION: Young shoots can be boiled for 10 minutes and served like asparagus. Whole shoots can be cut up and put into salads. The rootstocks can be added to stew or boiled for 20 minutes and eaten like potatoes. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)

First Nations People and colonists used the starchy rhizomes as food. (Niering)
Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: Berries. Only low toxicity if ingested. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea. Toxic Principle: Anthraquinone.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies