Starch wort Arisaema triphyllum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- air-ih-SAY-mah try-FY-lum
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Shady Garden in Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Black Jack'
Has shiny black foliage with a few green veins. - 'Mrs. French'
Green leaves with prominent white veins - 'Starburst'
Leaves have silver white viens - 'Starburst'
Vigorous, 22 inches tall, green leaves with white veins
- 'Black Jack'
- 'Black Jack', 'Mrs. French', 'Starburst', 'Starburst'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Black Jack'
Has shiny black foliage with a few green veins. - 'Mrs. French'
Green leaves with prominent white veins - 'Starburst'
Leaves have silver white viens - 'Starburst'
Vigorous, 22 inches tall, green leaves with white veins
- 'Black Jack'
- 'Black Jack', 'Mrs. French', 'Starburst', 'Starburst'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Arisaema
- Species:
- triphyllum
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & E. Canada to Central & E. U.S.A
- Distribution:
- Throughout
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The fruits are eaten by songbirds and eastern box turtles.
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- heavy shade, deer, wet soil, fire in the landscape
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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 To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Bright red, berry-like fruit. Displays from June to October. Each berry can contain 1 to 5 seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Spadix
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 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.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Reptiles
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- 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.]
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Calcium oxalate crystals
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
