Arisaema

( ar - riss - SEEM - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus is commonly called Jack-In-The-Pulpit or Cobra Lily, and included species need partial to full shade and regular waterings during growth and blooming periods. These relatives of Callas are interesting-looking garden oddities. Flowers are tiny, crowded onto a fleshy spike with a bract 'hood'. In late spring, each tuber sends up two to three leaves, followed by flowers which appear in spring through early summertime. Orange to red berries replace flowers after they expire. These are woodland plants and die back to the ground each winter. Use these ornamentals in mixed beds and borders, in shade or woodland gardens, or in containers. Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as they are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Arisaema Species and Varietals

The genus Arisaema is a member of the plant family Araceae and includes around 260 distinct species. The best growing zones for Arisaema vary depending on the species; for more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Arisaema candidissimum (Chinese Cobra Lily, Chinese Jack-In-The-Pulpit, Striped Cobra Lily, White-Spathed Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Pink Cobra Lily)
This species grows from corm and lives most of the year underground until spring or summer when it produces an inflorescence and foliage. Spathe is whitish, with stripes that are green on the outside and pink on the inside. Individual plants reach up to 15-18 inches tall when in bloom, and spread to 9-24 inches wide. The specific epithet 'candidissimum' means shining white, referring to the flower color. This species does well in USDA hardiness zones 4-9.

Arisaema consanguineum (Himalayan Cobra Lily, Chinese Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Tian Nan Xing)
This species is native to the Himalayas and Indochina, and forms and underground tuber from which a single deciduous leaf with many radial leaflets emerges. Flower spathe is deep maroon with green and white stripes. Once the flower fades, a cluster of bright red berries appears in fall. Great in woodland gardens; underground tuber may need some winter protection in cooler areas. These plants do well in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.

Arisaema dracontium (Dragon-Root, Green Dragon, Dragon Arum)
This species is native to North America from Quebec down through Minnesota to Florida and Texas, and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4-9. These plants are found growing in damp, woody areas in their native range. This plant grows from corm, and produces one leaf with between 7 and 13 leaflets and a green spathe around a tapering, long, thin spadix.

Arisaema erubescens (Blushing Cobra Lily)
Endemic to Nepal, this flower forms an underground tuber. The spathe is normally green, but can also be deep red with white or green stripes. Flowering stems reach up to 32 inches tall when plants are in bloom, which is typically in summertime. This species does well outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 6b-9b.

Arisaema fimbriatum
This tropical species is native to Thailand, Malaysia, and Pulau Lankawi. Spathe is commonly whitish green with maroon to red striping, and spadix is long, dangling, and tassle-like. These plants prefer to grow in wet woodlands and thickets, and produce palmately lobed leaves. They are best when grown in greenhouses or indoors in non-tropical climates.

Arisaema flavum (Yellow Cobra Lily, Yellow Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Dwarf Yellow Cobra Lily)
Native to north-east Africa and southern Asia, this species grows from tuber and forms a stout spathe that is yellow in color. The throat is dark purple on the interior. Flowers bloom June through July, and this species is consumed as a famine food in southern Ethiopia. The species is known for its adaptability, vigorous nature, and variable qualities. Best in USDA hardiness zones 4-10.

Arisaema heterophyllum (Dancing Crane Cobra Lily, Diverse-Leaf Jack-in-the-Pulpit)
This species grows from a rhizome and is native to east Asia. Spathe is green, and fruits are cylindrical and yellow to red, containing one seed each. It grows naturally in riparian, shrubland, inland wetland and grassland habitats in its native range. Leaves seem to form a ring around the flower spike, creating a visually impressive look. This species is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 5a-9b.

Arisaema jacquemontii (Jacquemont's Cobra Lily, Himalayan Green Cobra Lily)
Discovered by French botanist Victor Jacquemont, this species is native to forested slopes in Afghanistan, East Asia, and the Himalayas. Flowers bloom June through July. Individual plants in this species reach up to 2 feet tall and about half as wide. Best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.

Arisaema propinquum (Wallach's Cobra Lily, Himalayan Cobra Lily)
This unique species has a gorgeous spathe that looks very much like a cobra's head with interesting patterning. It naturally grows in the Himalayan Mountains, and reaches about a foot tall. Leaf stalk and stem are often spotted with brown or purple, and this species flowers in May through June. These plants are best when grown in USDA hardiness zones 7b-9b.

Arisaema quinatum (Southern Jack-In-The-Pulpit, Southern Jack, Preacher John, Indian Turnip, Five-Leaved Jack-In-The-Pulpit)
Growing from corm, this species is native to eastern North America. It was first described in 1818 by English botanist Thomas Nuttall. It is considered an uncommon or rare species due to habitat loss.

Arisaema ringens (Japanese Cobra Lily, Chinese Cobra Lily)
This species is native to Japan, Taiwan, China, and the Ryukyu Islands and is best when grown in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 or Sunset growing zones 1-7, 9, and 16-22. This species grows from a tuber root and reaches about 18 inches tall when flowering. These flowers enjoy moist, humus-rich soil. The spathe surrounding the spadix is purple and white striped with a purple interior.

Arisaema sikokianum (Japanese Jack-In-The-Pulpit, Japanese Cobra Lily, Shikoku Cobra Lily, Snow Rice-Cake Plant)
These plants grow best in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 or Sunset growing zones 3-6 and 14-17. Native to Japan, this species can reach 20 inches tall, with a 4-12 inch stalk bearing a 6-inch hooded spathe. Bract is smoky purple-brown on the outside and yellowish-white inside, expanded at the tip. This woodland plant loves growing underneath trees in forested areas. Cultivar 'Silver Center' has leaves with silvery markings along its midribs.

Arisaema speciosum (Double Whip Cobra Lily, Grand Cobra Lily, Himalayan Giant Cobra Lily)
This Himalayan native grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 or Sunset growing zones 4-6 and 14-17. One single leaf grows up to 2 feet with a stalk marbled in dark purple. Spathe bract is dark purple outside, white within. Cultivar 'Himalayan Giant' is a choice garden varietal that can reach between 18 and 24 inches tall.

Arisaema thunbergii (Asian Jack-in-the-Pulpit)
This species is native to Japan, southern Korea, and Taiwan, and has dark maroon flowers with white throats. Leaves are palmately divided and green, and plants reach up to between 1 and 2 feet tall when mature. Blooms don't typically rise above foliage, instead remaining protected under leaves. These plants do well in USDA growing zones 5-9. Cultivar 'Silver Center' has leaves with silver-white midribs.

Arisaema tortuosum (Whipcord Lily, Whipcord Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Baanko, Sarpako Makai, Bagh Jandhra)
This species grows best in USDA hardiness zones 6-9 and Sunset growing zones 4-6 and 14-17 and is native to the Himalayas. Individual plants reach 4-6 feet tall and leaves have many narrow leaflets. Spathe is green or purple. Leaves are green and palmate, appearing as flowers emerge. A whip-like tongue (an extension of the spadix) emerges from underneath the spathe.

Arisaema yamatense (Yamatense Cobra Lily, Murou-Tennanshou)
This Japanese native Jack-in-the-Pulpit produces flowers on an upright spadix surrounded by a bright green to whitish-green spathe. Individual plants typically reach up to 36 inches tall when mature and in bloom. This species does best when grown in USDA hardiness zones 5a-8b.

Caring for arisaema

Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as they are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Arisaema plants can be cultivated from rhizome roots, seed, or by purchasing a nursery specimen. Rhizomes typically will have a shoot already emerging from one end; plant with this portion just poking through the soil surface. Plant Arisaema in a place in the landscape that receives partial shade, or in a greenhouse. Ideally, they should be receiving filtered or indirect light throughout most of the day. If growing in a container, make sure it is relatively deep and drains well. These plants prefer to have their roots in fertile, moist soil that drains well with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are compacted, do not drain well, or are particularly poor in nutrients, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic matter or compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant after installation, ensuring that mulch stays at least a few inches away from the stems. This will increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a constant soil temperature.

Water new plants regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new environment. Mature plants should be given water any time the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. In climates with no frost, rhizomes can be left in the ground over the winter months. Mulching over the tops of plants during the coldest months of the year can help them to survive, as well. Pruning is relatively straightforward for these plants; after they are done flowering and fruiting, cut back the flowering stem to the base of the plant. Any remaining foliage can be cut back in this way as well. New foliage and flowering stems will form and bloom in the next growing season. Arisaema plants grow from either rhizome or corm, which will increase in size over time and allow plants to form clumps. They do not spread aggressively, but may need to be divided every few years if grown in a cramped space. These long-lived perennial plants can survive for 20 to 25 years or more in the garden.

Growing Arisaema in Containers
Arisaemas can be planted in the ground, though many people choose to cultivate them in pots to easily move them indoors and outdoors when necessary, as the rhizome roots do not always survive deep frosts. Choose a pot that has adequate drainage holes on the bottom and fill with a well-draining but moisture-retentive potting mix amended with plenty of organic material, perlite, and vermiculite. Place the container in an area that receives partial to full shade. Water regularly to keep soil relatively moist at all times; as a general rule of thumb, irrigate whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Arisaema plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than their in-ground counterparts. Repot every few years when the root systems outgrow the container. When roots begin to grow through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, this is an indicator for a needed repot.

Propagation

Arisaema plants are most readily propagated via seed, though they can also be propagated via vegetative cuttings or offsets. To propagate your Jack-in-the-Pulpit, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Arisaema by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seeds of Arisaema plants are located within the bright fruits held on the naked spadix after the spathe has faded. Cut the spadix off of the plant when the berries turn red in late summertime. Each berry contains between 4 and 6 seeds, which can be gently squeezed out. After seeds are removed, rinse them to remove any remaining fruit flesh.
Soak seeds for about 48 hours in warm water, exchanging the water a few times during the soaking period when it cools down. After this process, remove seeds from their bath and lay them out to work with them. Most species of Arisaema have seeds that are best used when fresh, and do not store particularly well.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes between 4 and 8 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Arisaema by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring or fall (after the plant has entered dormancy and been cut to the ground, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every four to five years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance, especially if you are growing Arisaema in a cramped space or in containers. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the rhizome roots. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers and rinse of any remaining dirt. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one growing point and a healthy root system.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions about an inch under the soil surface and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout. Arisaema plants that have been propagated via root division typically take a few years to re-establish themselves and begin flowering again.