Dentaybow (Jan) could answer your questions very well...Jan, are you out there?

I've only a relatively small amount of experience with jack-in-the pulpit, but here goes.... I planted some corms(?) of Arisaema triphyllum that I was given last year (thank you!! You know who you are!); a squirrel got a couple but the remaining one wintered well, and produced very interesting and showy leaves, and a very exotic looking and long-lasting flower!
I also planted a Chinese species, in 2004 that wintered and bloomed this year too. Again, very interesting foliage, though the flower was not as large or showy as the native North American species, A triphyllum.

Oops, I goofed up the italics thing and totally blotted out the name of the Chinese species: Arisaema flavum.

Arisaema triphyllum, our native Jack-in-the Pulpit, is a very hardy, easy-to-grow plant. It is definitely not invasive.

It takes several years for a young plant to produce seed. Once seed is produced, natural reseeding occurs and your plant will multiple nicely.

JIPs are woodland plants. Give them light shade, a humus rich soil and adequate moisture.

Definitely worth growing!

Lori - did your A.triphyllum produce seed?
Jan

No, it didn't but that's another thing to look forward to next year! (The other species didn't set seed either.)
In keeping with their natural habitat, mine are in a pseudo-woodland-type bed, under some fruit trees.

Thank you so much for the 411. I forgot 1 last question (sorry).

How long from seed to plants? Same year?

Just curious. The reason I am asking all these silly questions is, my friend and I placed an order with Patrick Studios (clearance seeds). I was under the assumption I had ordered 3 packs of JIP. When the seed order came the invoice stated 1 pack (aaawwww). Went back into the site (clearance was over) and they are out of seed. I emailed them to ask if there is any left (no response yet). I let my friend take the JIP seeds figuring "aaaww no problem I will get more". LOL @ me. Now I am going to order the 2 packs from gardens north and before I went ahead, I just thought I would make sure I really wanted them by asking the questions above. Thank you for helping me out. Appreciate your knowledge!

I germinated a package from Gardens North successfully using Norm Deno's baggie method and stratification in the fridge...no further complications, or delays, other than the chilling period.
...Strong healthy little seedlings to that point, but then I managed to kill them all by various means after planting them out, e.g. letting them dry out, not noticing they'd been dug up by some nefarious critter...general neglect would sum it up, I guess. Argghhh...

I have one JIP triphyllum that really has become somewhat invasive. I noticed it 17 years ago when I built and moved into my current home, I appreciated it, but never paid it a lot of attention until it demanded it.
He/She (they can change sex) must be very happy, as they are holding their own, and then some, amidst primula japonica (japanese candelabra primula) and lobelia syphillitica, two of the most rampant self-seeders I've ever grown. I hate to say this, but I pull them out in clumps, dozens or more at a time, there are so many of them self-seeded so thickly they could never reach maturity and bloom. I have lots of other A. triphyllum in my several acre woods, and none come close to perpetuating themselves like this one plant.

I don't know if this plant is exceptionally happy, exceptionally vigorous, or an anomoly... As I pull out its young to add to the compost pile, I shake my head, knowing it will probably come back triple-fold next spring.

Kate

I forgot to mention that this is one of my most cherished wildflowers of spring.

Kate, I assume by invasive you mean 'reseeding vigorously' rather than a plant that invades adjacent territory via a root system. Yes, they can be vigorous reseeders. This can be controlled by picking the berry clusters prior to ripening and preventing the berries from falling to ground.

It does sound like you have one happy JIP. I bet the corm size is incredible on that 17 year old! One more thing...did you have to mention that you are growing vigorous lobelia syphillitica? I am so jealous! LOL. Have never managed to get a lobelia through a winter.

A couple of comments about starting JIPs from seed. If you purchase cleaned seed, it will germinate relatively easily as mentioned by Lori. It will take about 3 years or so for the plant to mature and even longer to get a very nice specimen size plant.

The seeds dropped naturally by a seed producing JIP, will not germinate until the second year. The pulp part of the berry contains a germination inhibitor. So....in terms of natural reseeding...germination would not occur until the second spring. Then look out.....little seedlings everywhere. This is a plus for some folks and a negative for some folks. I pick the ripe berry clusters and plant them in our woodlands and/or take young plants to our woodlands in hopes of establishing new colonies.

As I mentioned previously, reseeding can be stopped by removing the berry clusters before they are ripe. But...because of the two year germination on natural reseeding....be prepared to see new seedlings for several years to come.
Jan

You all have been extremely helpful! Thank you so much for the advice!
Wendy