May 2021

By Ranger Amy

Keep an eye out for this unique plant when walking the park’s trails and roadsides.

During the month of April and May, Jack-in-the-pulpits sprout and can get up to 3 feet tall. They boast a unique green flower that looks like a carnivorous pitcher plant, but they are not carnivorous.

This pitcher design does aid in pollination. Various pollinators will get stuck in the pitcher-like flower long enough to get pollen all over their bodies before they escape and fly off to another plant.

In the fall these blooms will evolve into bright red berries that are poisonous to humans.