Jack-in-the-pulpit

Scientific name

Arisaema triphyllum

Description

Jack-In-The-Pulpit is a perennial wildflower that typically grows about 0.5 m in height. This flower has one or two leaves that grow on opposite sides of the plant from the base. The leaves are large, green colored, glossy, compound with three leaflets, have entire margins, and act like an umbrella over the flower. The flower is unique with the ‘Jack’ being a flower spike and the 'Pulpit' being the outer tube and hood that contains the flower spike. These flowers are showy, light green colored to dark purple with green streaks, and bloom between April and May. Mature hermaphroditic plants produce clusters of bright red berries, which are beneficial to birds and wildlife.

Planting conditions

Jack-In-The-Pulpit grows best in moist conditions with partial sun exposure or shade. It prefers well-drained but constantly moist, nutrient rich, loam or humus soil types. It is tolerant of shade, seasonally wet soil, and juglone toxicity from Walnut trees. It is intolerant of dry soil, full sun, or clay soil. This wildflower can be naturally found in moist, shaded, fertile forests with heavy leaf litter.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Moist
• Light conditions:
  • Shade
• Soil type:
  • Loamy
  • Humus
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Wildflower
• Eco Zone:
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
• Plant type:
  • Wildflower
• Height:
  • 0.5 m
• Spread:
  • 0.5 m