Phytolacca dioica

Phytolacca is the tree most identified with Argentina and Uruguay, especially with the gaucho culture.

Phytolacca’s trunk experiences secondary growth, which enables the tree to grow especially quickly. The tree tends to grow multiple trunks, creating an extremely interesting, sculptural trunk. The trunk is soft, spongy and relatively easy to break or design with bonsai. . The resin of the tree is toxic so the tree is immune to pests and insects. The tree’s canopy and broad and very characteristic, providing lots of shade and shelter from the sun for many animals. The tree’s leaves are meaty, simple and elongated and are in an alternate-leaf arrangement. The foliage changes color only in significant winter conditions, and sometimes it doesn’t change at all. Its summer flowering, yellowish stalks, has no horticultural value and is barely felt. It is of interest to note that the tree’s fruits, which resemble red-black grape clusters, are used to make red ink. The tree is very sensitive to cold, and frosts may significantly harm the young tree’s growth. It can handle the heatwave conditions present in Israel and accordingly is suitable for most areas of the country and most soil types. It prefers moist and highly watered soils, but it will thrive relatively easily even in suboptimal conditions, especially once it is established.

Phytolacca (especially male specimens) is especially recommended as a tree for parks due to its abundant shade and sculptural trunk, which is visually interesting and attractive to children for both climbing and playing due to its many branchings. Its roots tend to be invasive and rise close to the topsoil, so it is not recommended to plant it near buildings, pipes and sewage infrastructure or along streets. Mature trees have a real “skirt” of roots around them, which rise above the ground, similarly to old olive trees. The tree is long-lived, and, in optimal conditions, will reach gigantic dimensions of 40 meters high and trunks over 3 m in diameter. Due to the above, we do not recommend using this as a street tree. It requires a lot of space and is mainly suited for parks.