Flowers Seed (Jack-in-the-Pulpit) Native Wildflower

Arisaema triphyllum — Jack-in-the-Pulpit — is one of the most distinctive and beloved native US woodland wildflowers, named for its resemblance to a preacher standing in a canopied pulpit. A highly variable herbaceous perennial growing from a corm, it produces large, glossy three-parted leaves and unique hooded green-striped flowers (spathe and spadix) in spring. As the season progresses, the hooded female flower gives way to a large, glossy cluster of brilliant red berries in fall — a second season of ornamental interest. Plants slowly naturalize to form long-lived woodland colonies. Deer resistant; attracts birds and mammals to berries. Height: 18–24 inches | USDA Zones 3a–9b.

⚠️ Caution: All parts of this plant are poisonous. Causes painful burning and blistering when touched or ingested raw due to calcium oxalate crystals. Do not consume raw. Handle seed with gloves.

Plant Highlights

• Iconic native US woodland wildflower with hooded green-striped spathe over a central spadix (“Jack”)
• Brilliant red berry clusters in fall — striking ornamental interest through two seasons
• Long-lived colony former — plants spread slowly over many years via berries and offsets
• Grows in moist, shaded woodland conditions where most ornamentals struggle
• Deer resistant; berries attract birds and mammals
• Height: 18–24 inches | Spacing: 12–15 inches | Zones 3a–9b

Germination Guide

Jack-in-the-Pulpit requires a warm–cold–warm–cold double stratification to break dormancy. Two methods:

Artificial stratification (multi-stage):

1. Mix seed with moist sand; refrigerate (cold/moist) for 60 days.
2. Move to 70–75°F (warm/moist) for 30–60 days.
3. Return to refrigerator (cold/moist) for another 30–60 days.
4. Sow 1/4 inch deep, 12–15 inches apart in rich, moist soil. Germination: 14–20 days after final cold treatment.

Natural method (simplest): Direct sow in late fall — let winter–spring–winter–spring cycles do the work. Expect germination in the second spring after sowing. Patience required.

Note: For best germination from fresh seed, do not allow seed to dry out. Keep mixed with moist sand in the refrigerator until sowing. Wear gloves when handling seed.

Care Guide

Site: Moist soil and dappled shade — replicates the woodland habitat this species prefers. Maintain a layer of leaf mulch over the soil.

Growth rate: Slow — plants produce only one or two leaf sets in the first season and typically flower after about five years from seed. Rewarding long-term investment for the woodland garden.

Spread: Ripe berries drop and germinate readily the following spring; plants eventually form expanding colonies. Birds and mammals also help distribute seeds.

Berries: Develop after the flower fades in fall. Contain multiple seeds each. Gather wearing gloves; smash, rinse, and store seeds in moist sand in the refrigerator to keep viability until sowing.

Planting Specs

• Common name: Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Indian Turnip, Bog Onion, Cobra Lily, Memory Root
• Botanical name: Arisaema triphyllum
• Type: Native US perennial wildflower (corm)
• Bloom: Hooded green-striped spathe; spring through early summer | Fall: Red berry clusters
• Height: 18–24 inches | Spacing: 12–15 inches
• Zones: 3a–9b
• Light: Part sun to full woodland shade
• Soil moisture: Medium to wet
• Deer resistant: Yes | Colony former: Yes
• Germination: Double warm–cold stratification required; or natural fall sow (second-spring germination)
• ⚠️ Toxic: All parts. Handle with gloves.