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Symplocarpus foetidus (Linnaeus) Salisbury ex W.P.C. Barton. Common name: Skunk Cabbage. Phenology: Early Jan-Apr; Jul-Sep. Habitat: Seepage-fed bogs and nonalluvial swamps. Distribution: NS and s. QC west to MN, south to n. NC, e. SC (discovered in 2024), ne. TN, s. OH, and IL.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy : = AqW, C, Can, F, FNA22, G, GW1, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV; = Spathyema foetida (L.) Raf. — S, S13

Links to other floras: = Symplocarpus foetidus - FNA22

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
  • Great Plains: OBL
  • Midwest: OBL
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL

Heliophily : 5

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image of plant© Alan Cressler: Symplocarpus foetidus, along unnamed tributary of Severn Run, Central Sanitation Project, near Benfield, Anne Arundel County, Maryland 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Symplocarpus foetidus, along unnamed tributary of Severn Run, Central Sanitation Project, near Benfield, Anne Arundel County, Maryland 4 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Symplocarpus foetidus, Seep Ravine, Bird Hills Nature Area, Huron River Valley, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Symplocarpus foetidus, Cherokee National Forest, Johnson County, Tennessee 4 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Symplocarpus foetidus, along unnamed tributary of Severn Run, Central Sanitation Project, near Benfield, Anne Arundel County, Maryland 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Symplocarpus foetidus, Swamp, Great Falls Park, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Fairfax County, Virginia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Symplocarpus foetidus, Glade, Blue Ridge Parkway, Alleghany County, North Carolina 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Symplocarpus foetidus, Skunk Cabbage Bog, Blue Ridge Mountains. Blue Ridge Parkway, Alleghany County, North Carolina 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Strong-smelling, low, fleshy perennial that emerges in late-winter in seepage-fed bogs and non-alluvial swamps.

Stems: Stem a thick, underground rhizome that sends up the fleshy inflorescence and, later, the leaves.

Leaves: Leaves basal and clustered, emerging after flowers, petioles lengthening over time, broadly oval, 6-24 in.long, with netted veins and entire margins; smells like cabbage when bruised.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers completely cover a short-stalked, round to oval spadix that is mostly enclosed by a purple-mottled, fleshy spathe with in-rolled margins. Flowers yellowish or reddish, consisting of 4 perianth segments.

Fruits: Fruit a cluster of fleshy berries embedded in the spadix.

Comments: Through a chemical process, the flowers create heat, which can melt snow surrounding the spadix.

Height: 1-2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Strong-smelling, low, fleshy perennial that emerges in late-winter in seepage-fed bogs and non-alluvial swamps.

stems: Stem a thick, underground rhizome that sends up the fleshy inflorescence and, later, the leaves.

leaves: Leaves basal and clustered, emerging after flowers, petioles lengthening over time, broadly oval, 6-24 in.long, with netted veins and entire margins; smells like cabbage when bruised.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers completely cover a short-stalked, round to oval spadix that is mostly enclosed by a purple-mottled, fleshy spathe with in-rolled margins. Flowers yellowish or reddish, consisting of 4 perianth segments.

fruits: Fruit a cluster of fleshy berries embedded in the spadix.

comments: Through a chemical process, the flowers create heat, which can melt snow surrounding the spadix.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America