Poke is a beautiful native plant. I don't know who wouldn't want one. I think it gets a bad rap because it has "weed" in the name. It is edible but preparation is key. It has also medicinal and utilitarian uses so greens are the least of this plant's offerings.

But Weedlady is correct. Green plant cuttings won't do it. Here is the growing instructions from the PFAF.org entry on it:

Propagation - Seed - sow autumn or spring in a cold frame[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If you have sufficient seed, it might be worthwhile trying an outdoor sowing in a seed bed in early spring. Grow the plants on in the seedbed for their first year and plant them out the following spring. Division in March or October. Use a sharp spade or knife to divide the rootstock, making sure that each section has at least one growth bud. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

I thank you both. Weedlady I couldn't see a way to directly respond to you. As a kid I loved playing in the poke and getting the juice and such. I don't think it's quite as poisonous as its' been made out to be in some cases. I have collected the berries when ripe and let them sit outside for a time. They seem to shrivel and I move them between my thumb and forefinger and I have a few seeds. They look smaller than lentils and are dark. I have never seemed to be able to keep them through the winter they seem to "disappear". I have been told by a lady to blanch them once for a few minutes and then fry them. I have even heard of a few old timers who have eaten the seeds. I'm not that brave. With the proper mordant, they would be excellent dye I believe. I have read the seeds are kind of hard to start. You can for 3 months or so keep them in the fridge or put them in sulphuric acid for about 5 minutes and rinse. What about "root hormone" for cuttings? Would they work for Poke?

Rooting hormone would make no difference to Poke's ability to grow from cuttings. It just won't grow from stem cuttings.

floral_uk is exactly right. Some plants simply are not "wired" for propagation from cuttings!

The sulfuric acid takes the place of the seed passing through a bird's execratory system, but simple stratification surely should work. I use the technique successfully for a number of wild plant seeds. Hubby has gotten very good about ignoring the little zip bags of seed starter containing he has no idea what in the veggie drawer of the fridge. LOL

This site gives pretty good directions on native plant seed-starting: How to germinate native seeds

I would try winter sowing if you live some place where it snows. Great way to break seed dormancy for a lot of North American native plants.

So could I just keep the seeds in a bag in the fridge for about 3 months? Or would it be better to do as the one example says. 2 tps of water and a bit of maybe dirt or starter soil. And then keep in fridge for 3 months. Is there a certain time to put them out or start them inside? Just want to get it straight.

I believe it is not enough simply to chill the seeds; they need that bit of soil & water to mimic natural conditions - at least I have had better luck that way. Also, modern refrigerators suck moisture out of things so the seeds might well dehydrate & die if just in a paper bag.

I understand that some types of seed even need to go through temperature fluctuations to mimic Nature even more closely (e.g., into fridge, out again a few times, even at specific temperatures for ideal germination depending on the species) or left in a protected place outdoors. But I do not think poke would be too finicky since it is so common and has such a wide natural range of growing zones.

Since I have shelves in an uninsulated screen porch, I find that is a good place to put the baggies and/or pots as they are safer from rodents there than outdoors. Since it freezes out there, I will usually bring the pots or baggies indoors around February so they may thaw.

Generally, if I put seeds in the fridge to chill in November, I remove them by around Feb. 1 and check for sprouting. Sometimes (as with cranberry viburnum, for example) I see sprouts; other times (as with turtlehead, or for Asclepius spp.) I do not, but go ahead & add the baggie of soil & seed to a suitably-sized plastic pot about 3/4 full of lightly moistened seed starter (I like Pro-Mix Premium Organic Vegetable & Herb Mix ) and cover the pots in the flat with a clear lid and place under lights set to provide a 16-hour day. then I watch & wait patiently. :-) Once sprouts have a set of true leaves, I knock the contents out and pot up the individual seedlings into 3-4" pots and grow them on until ready for transplanting into open ground.

Can anyone else clarify/be more specific for Bill?

Winter sow. There's a whole forum here on it. See their FAQ. Try that. It's what Mother Nature intended and so it works better than using the fridge in my opinion.