Commonly called Jack-in-the-pulpit, this native plant is a spring woodland wildflower, usually growing 1- 2' tall. The spadix or 'Jack' has a columnar form with a sheath that is called a spathe or 'pulpit'. Flowering plants initially produce only male flowers, but become hermaphroditic as they further age (male flowers on the upper part of spadix and female on the lower part). Most plants in a colony will vanish by mid-summer (become dormant), but the mature, hermaphroditic flowering plant will produce a cluster of red berries in mid to late summer which becomes visible as the spathe withers. Roots contain calcium oxalate (same chemical as in Diffenbachia or dumb cane) and are poisonous. This unique plant, which is pollinated by flies and gnats, has the ability to change sex. A plant that starts out as male can spontaneously change to female the next year and vice versa. Pollinators crawl beneath the spathe, down the spadix while collecting pollen. Spreading by cormlets sent out from the main root allow this plant to colonize. It also produces rhizomes. Jack-in-the-pulpit is best grown in fertile, medium to wet soil in part shade to full shade. It needs constantly moist soil rich in organic matter. It does poorly in heavy clay soils. It may be grown from seed, but takes five years for the plant to flower. This plant is generally found in a forest or natural area in moist woods, along creeks, or in the landscape, as a cultivated herbaceous perennial. The presence of concentrations of calcium oxalate crystals cause this plant to be toxic to humans when ingested. It also deters wildlife such as deer from consuming the foliage. Allow heavy, leafy cover should be allowed to remain through the winter months. Propagation can be accomplished by division or from seed. When the seed method is used, it can take up to 2 years for germination to occur. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant insect or disease issues. More information on Arisaema .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Other/more complex
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Jack-in-the-pulpit has one to two leaves, originating at the base of the stem that is divided into three almost equal leaflets. More specifically, two large green, compound, long-petioled leaves (1-1.5' long), divided into three leaflets each, emanate upward from a single stalk and provide umbrella-like shade to the flower. The fleshy stalk and leaves lend an almost tropical aura to the plant.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Green; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary; Spadix
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Jack-in-the-pulpit has club-like spadix with tiny flowers at the base, with green or purple hood, often marked with whitish stripes (though it could have purple or brown stripes on a green hood). Blooms from March to April. More specifically, the flower structure consists of the spadix (Jack) which is an erect spike containing numerous, tiny, green to purple flowers and the sheath-like spathe (pulpit) which encases the lower part of the spadix and then opens to form a hood extending over the top of the spadix. The outside of the spathe is usually green or purple, and the inside is usually striped purple and greenish white, though considerable color variations exist.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Bright red, berry-like fruit. Displays from June to October. Each berry can contain 1 to 5 seeds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central & E. Canada to Central & E. U.S.A
Distribution
Throughout
Wildlife value
The fruits are eaten by songbirds and eastern box turtles.
CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! Poisonous through ingestion. (Poisonous parts: all parts). Symptoms may include: Irritation and swelling of lips, tongue, and throat, excessive drooling, and vomiting (not horses). [For example, the roots contain calcium oxalate (same chemical as in Diffenbachia or dumb cane) and are poisonous.]