Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
An unusual woodland perennial named for its hooded flower structure resembling a preacher (Jack) standing in a canopied pulpit. It can change sex from year to year and produces a cluster of bright red berries in fall.
- Light
- Part shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate to high; consistently moist soil
- Difficulty
- Moderate
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Overview
Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is a distinctive native woodland plant in the arum family. Its curious 'flower' is actually an inflorescence: an upright spadix (the 'Jack') sheltered by a hooded spathe (the 'pulpit') striped in green and purple-brown.
A remarkable trait is its ability to change sex between years, a phenomenon called sequential hermaphroditism. Stronger, better-fed plants tend to be female and produce seed, while smaller plants are male.
After flowering, the plant develops a tight cluster of glossy berries that ripen to brilliant red in late summer and fall.
How to identify it
Look for the hooded, striped flower structure rising between one or two three-part leaves.
- Flower structure: A vertical spadix (Jack) enclosed by an arching, striped spathe (pulpit) in green and purple-brown
- Leaves: One or two leaves, each divided into three leaflets, on tall stalks
- Berries: A dense cluster of green berries turning bright red in fall
- Size: 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) tall
- Bloom time: Mid-spring
Care & growing
Jack-in-the-pulpit thrives in shaded, moist woodland conditions.
- Light: Part to full shade
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist; tolerates wet ground and even bog edges
- Soil: Rich, humusy, slightly acidic woodland soil
- Temperature: Cold-hardy; goes dormant in summer or after seeding
- Propagation: By seed (clean the pulp first) or by offset cormlets
Habitat & origin
Jack-in-the-pulpit is native to eastern and central North America, from Nova Scotia and Ontario south to Florida and Texas.
It grows in moist to wet deciduous woodlands, swampy ground, floodplains, and along shaded streams, favoring rich soils with abundant leaf litter.
It is grown in shade and woodland gardens as a conversation-piece native, appreciated for its unusual form and showy autumn berries.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Jack and the pulpit?
The 'Jack' is the upright central spadix, and the 'pulpit' is the hooded, striped spathe that arches over it like a canopy.
Can a jack-in-the-pulpit really change sex?
Yes. Plants can shift between male and female in different years, with larger, well-nourished plants typically becoming female and setting seed.
When do the berries appear?
After flowering in spring, a tight cluster of green berries forms and ripens to a brilliant glossy red in late summer and fall.
What growing conditions does it need?
It thrives in part to full shade with rich, humusy, consistently moist woodland soil, and goes dormant after seeding.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Jack-in-the-Pulpit.
