Species › Plants › Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Arisaema triphyllum

CommonPlant
Illustration of Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
Safety note: All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals; raw plant causes intense burning pain if eaten.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit is a fascinating spring wildflower with a hooded spathe (the 'pulpit') sheltering a club-shaped spadix. It is a unique plant that can change sex from year to year depending on nutritional resources. By late summer it produces a cluster of brilliant scarlet berries eaten by wood thrushes and other birds.

Habitat
Rich moist forest understory and shaded floodplains
Diet
Berries eaten by wood thrush, wild turkey, and small mammals
How common
Common

Best time to see a Jack-in-the-Pulpit

The best time to see a Jack-in-the-Pulpit is April–May, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 76,437 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Jack-in-the-Pulpit sightings near you

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