Prefers full to partial shade, moist to medium soils, grows up to 2’ tall, flowers April through July and develops spikes of green berries that turn bright red when ripe in late summer to early fall. Will form colonies but is not an aggressive spreader. Appears as dioecious, having separate male and female plants. Plants can change the sex of their flowers from year to year in response to environmental conditions. Pollinated by flies and gnats.

All parts of the plant, including the corm and the fruits, contain calcium oxalate crystals, which is why, it is believed, deer do not prefer to eat it. It also does not seem to be as negatively impacted by the invasive jumping worms (Amynthas agrestis). Many species enjoy eating its fruits: “As with the seeds of Mayapple, those of Jack-in-the-pulpit have a higher germination rate after having passed through the gut of a box turtle. The turtles also benefit the plant by dispersing the seed into new habitats.” (Carol Gracie - Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast p.100-109)

I love Jack in the pulpit because it makes me smile when the weird flowers come up in early spring. I love how the large leaves are divided into 3 leaflets that look almost tropical and I love the non-traditional beauty of its flower. What we think of as the flower is actually the spathe (the hood part) surrounding the spadix (the “jack”), which bears the teeny-tiny flowers at the base. It is one of the easiest native species to identify and for those interested in growing their own, it is relatively easy to start from seed, although it takes several years before plants are mature enough to flower.