This short-lived herbaceous perennial shrub has an upright habit with brittle red stems that are woody at the base and has a fleshy taproot. The lanced-shaped green leaves turn reddish and the white cup-shaped flowers appear in a raceme during spring.  

Hardiness zones 9 to 11 

Phytolacca octandra is naturally found in tropical America growing in well drained, fertile moist light soils in an open sunny position and is frost and drought tender. 

Ink Weed is a coloniser and is found on disturbed soils and waste land where it grows quickly especially after a fire. It is not normally cultivated in gardens and is generally regarded as a weed. It is controlled by hand removal using a knife or mattock to dig out the taproot. ID 837

Note:
If ingested it may be lethal and contact with the sap may cause skin irritation.

Phytolacca (fi-tō-lă-ka) octandra (ōk-TAN-dra)

Phytolaccaceae (FY-tol-ah-KAY-see-ee)