Skunk Cabbage

Symplocarpus foetidus

Family Araceae

Brief Description: Flower a spathe and spadix like Jack-in-the-pulpit. Plants can spread to four feet across when mature. Beware of the smell; it's called Skunk Cabbage for a reason.

Blooms from February to April

Geographic Range: From Quebec and Nova Scotia to North Carolina; west to Minnesota and Iowa.

Habitat: Swamps and moist low ground

Propagation: Collect the seeds from inside the spadix in early fall and plant immediately. Sow in a shaded outdoor bed and look for seedlings the following spring. Water regularly during the growing season.

Garden Use: Shade; suitable for damp, shady locations, although not usually planted.

Historic Uses: Indians used to smoke the plant when they did not have tobacco; they would first fix the plant so it would smell less hideous. The young leaves can be cooked in a stew, but only after drying to remove toxins.