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tree/shrub questions

16 years ago

I have three persimmons, from 2' tall to about 15' tall. I've always heard they get beautiful fall color, but mine just turn gray.black and wither each fall. Any theories?

Also, my wife loves the look of Pokeweed we see at where we hike...is there a reason not to plant this in our yard, and if not,where can I get it?

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Comments (4)

lycopus
16 years ago
According to Dirr, yellow-green is the best you can hope for from persimmon in Illinois. When I lived out there I recall the leaves turning blackish as you describe. The color is apparently a little better in the south, where they can turn a reddish-purple.

Best source of pokeweed would probably be another pokeweed. There might still be some berries on the plants this time of year, assuming the birds didn't get them all. Only reason not to plant it is that pokeweed is considered to be a weed, but it is native and typically grows in disturbed habitat. So it isn't going to cause any harm from an ecological viewpoint.
bob64
16 years ago
I love pokeweed but it is very aggressive so if you have only a small space think twice. Otherwise, plant away.
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fiddlrs3
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks! I do have a source for berries, and if the birds can use them, why not?
ctnative
16 years ago
One caution with pokeweed is that it is poisonous, especially for small children who may be attracted to the berries. This is why it is not usually grown in gardens. If eaten, it will cause severe vomiting (usually after a couple of hours) and can lead to death, although not common. You may hear that some eat this plant (poke sallet) but that is only after careful preparation. A quick web search will pull up more information.

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