Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Sunday - April 18, 2010

From: Lansing, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Propagation
Title: Propagation of Jack in the Pulpit in Lansing MI
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I just received some Jack in The Pulpit corms. Which way is up; does the pointy thing go up or down? Thank you.

ANSWER:

It was quick and easy to find out the growing conditions and so forth from our Native Plant Database page on Arisaema triphyllum (Jack in the pulpit. From there, we learned in this USDA Plant Profile that it is native pretty well all over Michigan, including Ingham Co., in south central Michigan, USDA Hardiness Zones 5a to 5b. It was finding the answer to your question that was a neat trick.

Finally, from the website The Primrose Path The Arisaema Triphyllum Complex we found this one line:

"The plant overwinters as a corm with a smooth, rounded bottom and a pointed bud on top."

At the very bottom of that page, there is a picture. Hope that helps.

From our Native Plant Image Gallery: