Jack In The Pulpit

Arisaema triphyllum

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Araceae
Genus:
Arisaema
Species:
Arisaema triphyllum

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
2-3 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Shade
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
mar, apr, may, jun
Bloom Colors:
Green, Purple, Brown

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Pink-legged Tiger Moth (Spilosoma latipennis)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.0 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers shaded woodland environments

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Requires stratification: mix the seeds with an equal amount of moist perlite or vermiculite. Put mixture into a Ziploc-style bag or a Rubbermaid-style container. 2-3 months of moist cold stratification in a cool dry place (refrigerator or cold garage). Cold store until planted (up to 3 years).

Establishment: Seed is collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern central Upper Peninsula. The plant blooms from March to June. Fruit type is a berry containing 1-5 seeds. The seed is harvested as soon as the fruits are bright red. Caution: berry juice may irritate skin. Found in rich, moist deciduous woods and flood plains. Full shade. Unusual green/maroon flower (spathe and spadix). Height to 2 feet. Red berries ripen in fall and are showy.

Source: npn.rngr.net