Arisaema triphyllum
An eastern North American woodland perennial with trifoliate leaves and a hooded spathe enclosing a spadix, it flowers in spring and later bears bright red berries, contains calcium oxalate in tissues, and can change sex from year to year.
Common Names
Jack-In-The-Pulpit, Bog Onion, Lord-And-Lady, Wake Robin
Summary
Jack-in-the-Pulpit is a shade-loving perennial native to central and eastern Canada to central and eastern USA, growing from a corm and forming colonies in moist woodlands, it typically stands 30 to 65 cm tall, with one or two leaves each divided into three leaflets, and an inflorescence featuring a hooded spathe enclosing a spadix; the spathe can be green or purple with stripes, and bright red berries appear later; all parts contain calcium oxalate and are poisonous if ingested; flowers are pollinated by fungus gnats (and thrips in some cases); preferring fertile, moist, humus-rich soils in light to partial shade, this plant is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and can be grown from seed or division; seed propagation requires 60 to 90 days of cold stratification and may take years to flower, while division offers quicker establishment; corms should be planted about 10 cm deep and 6 to 12 inches apart, with fall mulch for winter protection; cultivars such as Black Jack, Mrs. French, and Starburst provide ornamental options, and red berry clusters feed birds, while the plant is typically deer- and rabbit-resistant; it suits woodland or rain garden settings in shaded, moist conditions.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12-24 inches
Spread
12-18 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade to full shade, tolerates full shade, avoids full sun
Soil Type
Moist, fertile, humus-rich soil that is medium to wet and well-drained
Soil Drainage
Moist, well-drained soil (not waterlogged)
Soil pH
6.0-7.0, Slightly acidic to neutral, Tolerates all soil pH levels
Bloom Color
Green, often with purple markings or stripes
Bloom Time
Spring (March–June)
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
No fall foliage color
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Slow-growing; growth from seed may take 4–5 years to reach flowering maturity.
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts birds, Attracts flies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (L.) Schott
- Publication
- Melet. Bot. : 17 (1832)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Alismatales
- Family
- Araceae
- Genus
- Arisaema
Synonyms
Arisaema atrorubens f. viride Arisaema atrorubens f. zebrinum Arisaema brasilianum Arisaema deflexum Arisaema hastatum Arisaema triphyllum f. viride Arum atrorubens Arum triphyllum Arum triphyllum var. virens Arum vittatum Arisaema atrorubens f. pallascens Arisaema atrorubens var. zebrinum Arisaema quinatum var. obtuso-quinatum Arisaema triphyllum var. typicum Arisaema triphyllum var. viride Arisaema triphyllum f. zebrinum Arum triphyllum var. atropurpureum Arum triphyllum var. atrorubens Arum triphyllum var. pallescens Arum triphyllum var. viride Alocasia atrorubens Alocasia lobata Alocasia triphylla Arisaema triphyllum f. triphyllum Arisaema triphyllum var. bispadiceum Arisaema triphyllum var. bispathaceum Arisaema triphyllum var. trispadiceum Arisaema atrorubens Arisaema atrorubens var. viride Arisaema triphyllum var. montanum Arisaema zebrinum Arum triphyllum var. zebrinum Arisaema triphyllum var. stewardsonii Arisaema triphyllum var. triphyllum