Wake robin Arisaema triphyllum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Wake robin:
- Phonetic Spelling
- air-ih-SAY-mah try-FY-lum
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Arisaema triphyllum, commonly called Jack-in-the-pulpit, is a spring woodland wildflower usually growing 1- 2' tall. 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 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.
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 cultivated herbaceous perennial.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Blooms: Spring Nut/Fruit/Seed: Summer
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Wild Side- A Shady Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Arisaema
- Species:
- triphyllum
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- 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:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- heavy shade, deer, wet soil, fire in the landscape
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
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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 Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Bright red, berry-like fruit. Displays from June to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- 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 Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Hairs Present:
- No
- 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:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- 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
