06/09/2026
“ A First For Me “
I have never laid my eyes on a live Jack-In-The-Pulpit plant before, and a few days ago I was tipped off by someone that they had 10 or so plants emerging in a special spot on their property. So when I was asked to come see them, I jumped at the chance. My hope is to take photos frequently to show their growth and developmental stages. In the meantime,, here is some information about this species and the photos I took today.
Jack-In-The-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), also commonly called Indian turnip, is a shade requiring species found in rich, moist, deciduous woods and floodplains. A long lived perennial (25+ years), it will spread and colonize over time from an acidic corm.
The Arum family (Araceae), of which it is a member, contains 27 genera and six other species within the genus Arisaema. All species -A. dracontium/ green dragon, A. speciosum/ cobra lily, / A. japonica/ Japanese arisaema, / A. heterophyllum/ A. tortuosum/ arisaema - possess the characteristic and exotic flower structures. Jack-in-the pulpit is pollinated by small flies and flowers from March through June depending on locale. The flower is an unusual green and maroon striped spathe surrounding a fleshy, maroon-colored spadix that bears the tiny, embedded flowers. The showy, bright red berries have the consistency of a ripe tomato, and are an attractive food source for birds such as thrushes, rodents, etc. Each berry contains 1 to 5 seeds and ripens in the fall. The unusual flowers, attractive 3-parted leaves, and showy fruits make this species an attractive addition to a shady native plant garden.
Leaves and fruits contain calcium oxalate that can irritate the skin so it is important to wear gloves when collecting and cleaning the berries. Seeds should be cleaned as soon as possible after collection as they are recalcitrant and lose viability if allowed to dry out. Berries can be smashed with a large spoon or by hand, and the seeds separated by rinsing them in a strainer, picking out large debris.
In Thunder Bay, Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is a native spring wildflower that thrives in rich, moist deciduous woodlands and floodplains. Sightings are recorded in shady areas with abundant leaf mold. They are spotted in undisturbed natural environments throughout the region.
Key Locations for Sightings:
Pictured Lake Nature Reserve - the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists manage a 116-acre reserve abutting Oliver Creek. The creek's rich floodplain provides ideal, protected habitat for Jack-in-the-Pulpit, bloodroot, and wild ginger.
Riparian & Swampy Areas - these plants may be found near the banks of rivers and beaver ponds where decomposing vegetation and water content are high.
Deciduous Forests - Look for them in areas featuring large sugar maples and yellow birches that provide deep shade.
When to Look:
Spring (May to Early June): The distinctive hooded flowers appear, hiding the "Jack" spadix under a set of tri-lobed, overarching leaves.
Late Summer to Fall: The flowers fall away, leaving behind a stalk of tight, bright-red berry clusters.
NOTE** special thanks to my ‘informant” 😘
