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transplanting jack in the pulpit #749629

Asked May 12, 2021, 11:13 PM EDT

We moved into our new home in Mpls last November and are just now discovering all of the wonderful perennial plants that are popping up, Much of the back yard was left wild and unkempt for what looks like years. We want to keep parts of it looking natural like that but also want to put up a fence and establish a little more "order" by doing some intentional landscaping. One plant of note is jack-in-the-pulpit. I love this plant. I have flagged over 50 of them so far. With landscaping, hardscaping and fence building on this double lot we are thinking of digging most of them up and then replanting them more intentionally when the disturbance is past. What is the best way and time to do this? We do not have specific timetables for much of the work and with labor demand as it is it may not be until late summer/fall or even next spring. The fence however, may go in sooner. The east and south side of the house have a good amount of garden space. The north side has abundant shade but no tilled ground. Should we pot these plants individually and try to keep them alive all summer? Perhaps mounding them still in pots but covered with soil or mulch? Or should we transplant them into the ground with no pots and just dig them up again whenever we are ready for that? That option would cause more root disturbance. Are these fussy plants to transplant?

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hi,

The best time to transplant these wonderful plants is in the Fall, after the foliage has died back for the season. I think it’s a bit late now, but if you have to move them, do so carefully, and expect some failure. Note that these plants need shade, moist soil (when transplanting, dig up a good amount of the soil the plant is currently in), and woodland “debris” (you can add compost).

I’m not sure they will do well in pots, but you might experiment with one...

Here is an article you might enjoy: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/propagating_jack_in_the_pulpit

Thank you for your inquiry and good luck! Replied May 13, 2021, 6:08 PM EDT

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