Arisaema (Araceae)
Commonly known as jack in the pulpit (or Jacks!), arisaema is a genus of 150 species of mostly tuberous, though some rhizomatous, that are distributed over the northern hemisphere of Eastern Asia and North America. Here in the northeast US, A. triphyllum grows commonly at the edges of rich woods. They are grown for their attractive, sometimes unusual spathes, a hood-like bract, and the fleshy spadix, embedded with tiny flowers that emanates from it, the pulpit and the jack. They often flower as they emerge in late spring bringing up the simple, palmately lobed leaves with it. Some have a simple, broad trilobed leaf form, others have a solitary leaf with up to 20 long narrow leaflets forming a kind of umbrella. The flowers are followed in the fall by a large cluster of red to orange berries. A striking and unique addition to the woodland shade garden. Likes a well drained, but evenly moist soil.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
A. candidissimum - Pink striped white spathe in early summer followed by tri palmate, broadly oval leaflets. ($8 and $12)
A. consanguineum - A solitary leaf of 11-20 narrow leaflets that hang over the light green, white striped spathe and nestled spadix. ($8 and $12)
A. consanguineum ‘Poseiden’ - A large, robust selection, to 4’. Unique, bicolor splashing on the leaves and a long “drip string” that emenates from the tip of each leaflet. A well grown plant is striking. Choice! ($15)
A. draconitum - A rarer eastern US native. The green dragon produces a single leaf growing upwards and made of leaflets each smaller then the last. Produces a striking green spathe with a long spadix emanating to 6”. Available in 2026.
Sold as tubers in two sizes. A - 1.25-1.5” and B - .75”-1”
Commonly known as jack in the pulpit (or Jacks!), arisaema is a genus of 150 species of mostly tuberous, though some rhizomatous, that are distributed over the northern hemisphere of Eastern Asia and North America. Here in the northeast US, A. triphyllum grows commonly at the edges of rich woods. They are grown for their attractive, sometimes unusual spathes, a hood-like bract, and the fleshy spadix, embedded with tiny flowers that emanates from it, the pulpit and the jack. They often flower as they emerge in late spring bringing up the simple, palmately lobed leaves with it. Some have a simple, broad trilobed leaf form, others have a solitary leaf with up to 20 long narrow leaflets forming a kind of umbrella. The flowers are followed in the fall by a large cluster of red to orange berries. A striking and unique addition to the woodland shade garden. Likes a well drained, but evenly moist soil.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
A. candidissimum - Pink striped white spathe in early summer followed by tri palmate, broadly oval leaflets. ($8 and $12)
A. consanguineum - A solitary leaf of 11-20 narrow leaflets that hang over the light green, white striped spathe and nestled spadix. ($8 and $12)
A. consanguineum ‘Poseiden’ - A large, robust selection, to 4’. Unique, bicolor splashing on the leaves and a long “drip string” that emenates from the tip of each leaflet. A well grown plant is striking. Choice! ($15)
A. draconitum - A rarer eastern US native. The green dragon produces a single leaf growing upwards and made of leaflets each smaller then the last. Produces a striking green spathe with a long spadix emanating to 6”. Available in 2026.
Sold as tubers in two sizes. A - 1.25-1.5” and B - .75”-1”
Commonly known as jack in the pulpit (or Jacks!), arisaema is a genus of 150 species of mostly tuberous, though some rhizomatous, that are distributed over the northern hemisphere of Eastern Asia and North America. Here in the northeast US, A. triphyllum grows commonly at the edges of rich woods. They are grown for their attractive, sometimes unusual spathes, a hood-like bract, and the fleshy spadix, embedded with tiny flowers that emanates from it, the pulpit and the jack. They often flower as they emerge in late spring bringing up the simple, palmately lobed leaves with it. Some have a simple, broad trilobed leaf form, others have a solitary leaf with up to 20 long narrow leaflets forming a kind of umbrella. The flowers are followed in the fall by a large cluster of red to orange berries. A striking and unique addition to the woodland shade garden. Likes a well drained, but evenly moist soil.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
A. candidissimum - Pink striped white spathe in early summer followed by tri palmate, broadly oval leaflets. ($8 and $12)
A. consanguineum - A solitary leaf of 11-20 narrow leaflets that hang over the light green, white striped spathe and nestled spadix. ($8 and $12)
A. consanguineum ‘Poseiden’ - A large, robust selection, to 4’. Unique, bicolor splashing on the leaves and a long “drip string” that emenates from the tip of each leaflet. A well grown plant is striking. Choice! ($15)
A. draconitum - A rarer eastern US native. The green dragon produces a single leaf growing upwards and made of leaflets each smaller then the last. Produces a striking green spathe with a long spadix emanating to 6”. Available in 2026.
Sold as tubers in two sizes. A - 1.25-1.5” and B - .75”-1”