Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

jack-in-the-pulpit

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Arisaema triphyllum

Family:

Araceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

1-1.5 ft tall by to 1 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

green

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Retain if present. Interesting in a moist shade garden as its flowers form a small preacher in a pulpit.

Considerations:

Poisonous--contains calcium oxalate crystals.

Availability:

Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

-|----|--- <---------------------> -|----|----|----|------

Stays wet ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals

Pollinated by flies.

Birds and other wildlife consume fruit.

Native Habitats:

moist hammocks

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Native Americans gathered the fleshy corms as a vegetable and either dried them or cooked them to dissolve the calcium oxalate crystals.

General Comments:

The interesting flower shape reminded early settlers of someone standing in a pulpit.