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need help: jack in the pulpit care instructions

marbles_n_the_garden

18 years ago

Hello,

I am creating a bog in my yard. We have an area that fills up with heavy rain that runs down the side of our field. I have dug out about half of the bog now, and it improved the drainage by a good day or so for the rest of the wet field. Eventually, the bog drains too, but stays very moist a long time after the flooding. I could easily water it 2 times a week in warm weather to keep it bog-like. This area gets direct morning sun until noon-ish, with a couple of shadier parts. OK, so those are the conditions.

I visited my sister this weekend in Vermont. Her husband is buiding a road on their property. I have been saving--or salvaging--plants from there. I got 3 Jack in the Pulpit plants this weekend. I know nothing about their needs except what I saw there: wet, primarily shady with a little dappled sunlight on occasion.

I planted them in my bog area to the side that is done, and mixed in peat for water retention. I put them in at the same depth, and put them in the shadier part.

How'd I do? Can anyone give me some more information? I have been hoping to trade for this plant for some time, and am quite thrilled to have them now. I want to insure they live--as best I can.

Moreover, can anyone tell me...

Do the bulbs (or corms or whatever they have) multiply like daffodils or crocus or anything I may be more familiar with?

Thanks in advance for the assistance!

Robin

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Comments (3)

yarthkin
18 years ago
Robin,

I think you are probably good on the conditions (shady to part sun). I wouldn't grow this species in standing water, but anything from slightly moist to wet is probably fine. They seem to do well in rich organic "mucky" soil, the same kind of soil you might use for skunk cabbage, false hellebore, marsh marigold, and swamp pink. They will also thrive in a normal woodland garden, even if it has periodic dry periods. They will spread over time but are really slow growers. It can take years from seed to bloom.
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compost_hugger_nancy
18 years ago
the area must also be undisturbed or the female may stop producing.

They grow naturally in my black mucky wood edge where it is ALWAYS wet. Can't walk the area without boots on and my cane will go halfway in (I stop it there as I don't want to fall). It would probably go in farther but you can hear the suck as I try to pull it out. The soil stays wet and in some spots has a few inches of standing water.

Do your best not to disturb the area and after bloom they may grow between 1.5 - 2 foot tall.
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marbles_n_the_garden
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the responses! That is a great help. They seemed to have survived the move, so I am encouraged. My brother works for a cranberry grower, and I hope to put those in the bog as well.
Robin
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