FNPS Plant Database

Arisaema triphyllum

jack-in-the-pulpit
  • 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

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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

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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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.

Citations:

Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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