Eastern Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sim-plo-KAR-pus FET-uh-dus
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Skunk Cabbage is a perennial herb in the Araceae family with large, heart shaped foliage. Its name originates from its appearance, Symplocarpus translating to 'connected fruits', while foetidus refers to the plant's unpleasant odor.
Its flowers, which appear before the leaves, are small and form in a greenish-yellow spadix or spike surrounded by a red-purple-brown spathe or sheath. The flowers have the ability to chemically heat themselves giving the plant the ability to melt its way through snow, earning the recognition as the first flower of spring. Although they are attractive and bloom early, the flowers as well as the leaves have a foul smell if bruised. This odor is said to have the scent of decaying flesh which lures insects who pollinate the plant.
Typically found in bogs, swamps, wet meadows, and very wet woods its native habitat includes swamps and muddy locations. Once planted, its roots firmly take hold, making transplanting extremely difficult. Its future may be threatened by the decline in wetlands in some locations.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues with diseases or insects. - See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Symplocarpus
- Species:
- foetidus
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada to North Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT,m, WI, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to this plant, as well as some herbivores.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- The uncurled leaves and roots are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Creeping
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits emerge after the flower blooms. The 4" x 3" fruits start out green, turn to a dark purple and later a dark color before disintegrating. Each fruit contains a 1/3" seed which if not removed from the plant can fall to the ground, where it is likely to germinate.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Fleshy purple to reddish-brown spathe wraps around a heavy round spadix. Tiny 1/4" flowers grow near the ground on the spadix. Each flower has 4 sepals and its reproductive organs. Flies are attracted to an odor that is emitted from the blooms. Foul, skunk-like odor.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Large ovate to cordate (heart-shaped), ribbed/veined leaves. Broad at the base. They are produced after flowering. They will wither away by summer's end.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Near Septic
- Pond
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Burning and swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat. Nausea, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing, and diarrhea may also occur.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Calcium oxalate crystals plus unknown toxins
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
