Category: Woodlands | Accent on Natural Landscaping Inc

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

May 16, 2018

Jack-in-the-Pulpits (Arisaema triphyllum) are such unusual looking plants, but you can’t help but love the way they stand so erect, hiding the jack inside. Jacks are that special shade garden specimen because of their unusual appearance. Its flower looks like a “Jack” in a pulpit. They can grow anywhere from 1 to 3 feet tall. Typically, the older they are and the richer the soil, the larger the plant. They like rich, damp soil. Some tolerate even wetter areas like bogs and stream banks. This native grows in the eastern half of the United States.

THE FLOWER

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (*Arisaema triphyllum*) plants are one of the most unique plants in America’s moist forests and wetland areas. If you use your imagination, you can see the preacher (Jack) inside his pulpit. Photo courtesy of Wildflower Weekly.

The green flower, called a spathe, is shaped like a hooded pulpit. It often has green or maroon strips for added color. The spathe gently folds over the “Jack” which is a stout column inside called a spadix. This column has a rounded top and is covered with many tiny flowers.

POLLINATION

Although there are male and female Jacks (dioecious), their spadix is covered with tiny flowers containing both male and female parts. It is pollinated by fungus gnats (flies) who are attracted to a slight fungal odor given off by the spath. The gnats are looking for a place to lay their eggs. In so doing they provide the pollination needed for the Jack-in-the-Pulpits to propagate. The tricky part is navigating between the male and females Jacks. The male Jacks provide an escape route for the gnats, but the females do not.

PROPAGATION

Often you’ll find a number of young Jacks growing together in a group where the seeds fall. The plant’s two large leaves, each with three leaflets, are often confused with Trillium leaves. Trillium (*Trillium grandiflorum*) leaves, however, are broader and the vein pattern is different.

After pollination, the tiny flowers on the spadix wither and eventually turn into the prettiest bright red berries. The berries, as they ripen, turn into mush containing up to five seeds. So although the Jack-in-the-Pulpit plant is a corm (bulb) which sends out shoots to produce new plants, it also grows from a seed. It requires cold-stratification to germinate. See How to Germinate Native Seeds by Prairie Moon Nursery for more details on cold-stratification.

CRITTERS

In my research, I found very little about animals that eat the seeds of the Jack-in-the-Pulpit, although I did see reference to birds and turkeys. It seems the juice of the berry is irritating and the berries themselves are poisonous and also irritating — perhaps this defense is the reason why so few critters munch on it.

I do know, however, in my own woodland, I rarely get to see the seeds ripen completely because they are eaten by something.

WOFVA Native Plant Sale Pick-Up May 19th

May 9, 2018

Yellow Coneflower (*Ratibida pinnata*) aka Gray-headed Coneflower, Scarlet Catchfly (*Silene virginica*), Purple Coneflower (*Echinacea purpurea*) and Monarda (*Monarda fistulosa*) aka Wild Bergamot are wonderful pollinator plants. See a complete listing of pollinator plants in the Wild Ones Wild for Monarchs brochure. Photo by Donna VanBuecken; click on photo to enlarge.

Just a reminder!

If you live in the Fox Valley area of Wisconsin, next Saturday May 19th is the day to pick up your order from the Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter’s Spring Native Plant Sale. All the pre-orders will have been sorted, and will be ready for pick-up. But there will be plenty of additional native prairie and shade plants available for you to add to your order or to just simply pick out. This plant sale is a good opportunity to purchase native plants at a lucrative price to add to your landscape, while at the same time “talking to the choir” about native plants, pollinators and the environment in general.

PICK-UP LOCATION

This year’s Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter (WOFVA) plant sale is again being held at the WILD Center, 2285 Butte des Morts Beach Rd, Neenah, Wisconsin from 9AM to 2PM CST on May 19, 2018.

PLANTS FEATURED

Plants featured are high quality nursery-propagated native forbs, grasses, ferns and vines in 4-inch pots, 1- to 2-year growth. Wild Ones continues in its efforts to save America’s favorite butterfly, along with other pollinators, through the Wild for Monarchs campaign. Through our spring native plant sale, we encourage everyone to buy and plant more milkweed (host plant for monarchs) and more nectar plants (food sources for pollinators). WOFVA volunteers will be on-site to help you plan butterfly and pollinator gardens with native plants, or to integrate these plants into your existing gardens.

VOLUNTEERS

The week prior to the plant sale pick-up date, volunteers get together at the WILD Center to stage the pick-up area, unload the truck and sort plants. If this is something with which you’d like to help, contact Donna VanBuecken, Plant Sale Coordinator to volunteer your time.

Directions to WILD Center.

Another Sign of Spring 2018

May 7, 2018

Bloodroot (*Sanguinaria canadensis*) is a member of the poppy family (*Papaveraceae*) and is found throughout eastern and midwestern North America. (Click photo to enlarge)

Another sign of spring has shown itself in my little woodland. It is the plant known as Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and is native throughout the temperate regions of the United States east of the Mississippi. It was first found in Canada, hence it’s Latin species name.

The genus name Sanguinaria, comes from the Latin sanguis meaning ‘blood.’ The color of the roots and their sap is a reddish-orange, like blood. Sometimes referred to as Red Paccoon, the common name comes from the Indian word “pak” referring to blood and to plants like this that were useful in making dyes. It was used by Native Americans to dye baskets and clothing, and to decorate weapons and tools. When mixed with animal fat, it was used as a war paint.

The species is hermaphrodite which means it has both male and female reproductive organs. It grows in rich, light sandy and medium loam well-drained soil.

POLLINATION

When the Bloodroot emerges in early spring, “the stem, leaf, and bud all come up together. The bud is protected by the leaf, which is carefully wrapped around what will become the delicate flower.

The blossoms have no nectar, but the large petals and brightly colored centers attract insect pollinators. Bloodroot is typically pollinated by bees, which transfer its pollen to other flowers. Ants then disperse the mature seeds. A large distribution of Bloodroot within a localized area is indicative of the work of one ant colony, which has been gathering and storing seeds for many years.

If the plant blossoms too early in spring when it is still cold, bees will not be available to assist in pollination. Instead, Bloodroot will eject pollen from its sacs in an effort to hit the stigma of another plant. Like many ephemerals, Bloodroot is able to produce seed independent of insect assistance.” (St Olaf College)

Finally, a Sign of Spring 2018

May 2, 2018

I’m always amazed with spring weather. Last week we had winter weather and this week and for the foreseeable future, we’re going to have early summer weather — that’s life in Wisconsin!! Sunday I walked around my yard and there was littlea sign of spring except for the emerging Virginia Bluebells. But Monday, with the 70 degree weather, came some spring ephemerals. The only one big enough to really see well was the Dutchman’s Breeches.