No idea but don't eat them will you....not until you're sure....

I don't know what it is, either, but it looks quite sinister!

Phytolaca americana and the berries are very poisonous. The newly emerged shoots were eaten at one time, but once they get beyond a certain size they become too poisonous to be edible.

It does look quite scary doesn't it?

The majority of the fruiting bodies on plants are poisonous... Unless you absolutely know otherwise do not eat any of them!

I rather like the plant we have a nice sized clump in the garden.

This plant is spreading rapidly in my area.

I'd never seen one until 3-4 years ago but it is appearing in lots of the gardens I look after.

It gets surprisingly large very quickly. The biggest I've seen so far is about 2 metres tall and wide. I like it but it is a bit of a thug. It is known as American poke weed in the USA

After a bit of Googling I found this on Wickipaedia

"American Pokeweed is a large semi-succulent herbaceous perennial plant growing up to 10 feet in height. It is native to eastern North America, the Midwest, and the Gulf Coast, with more scattered populations in the far West".

Thanks guys- those berries did look so juicy very glad I didn't scoff them!! We saw this growing in Bowles garden Middleton gardens and think its really interesting :)