Eastern Skunk Cabbage
Symplocarpus foetidus
Also listed as Spathyema foetida, Dracontium foetidum
Also known as Skunk Cabbage, Polecatweed
Climate Match for your location
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A distinctive native wildflower with a mottled purple-and-green spathe that emerges in late winter and generates heat to melt surrounding snow. The plant thrives in wet, shaded woodland areas and produces an unpleasant odor when crushed, hence its common name.
Why grow it
Eastern skunk cabbage is among the earliest native wildflowers to bloom, often flowering while snow still covers the ground, making it useful for extending the flowering season in woodland gardens. Unlike many spring ephemerals, it thrives in consistently wet conditions where many ornamental alternatives struggle, and its distinctive mottled spathe provides visual interest before most other shade plants have leafed out. It also supports early-season pollinators and wildlife when few other food sources are available.
Watch out for
The plant spreads by seed in suitable conditions and can gradually expand its footprint in a wet garden, which may or may not align with your design intent. Its large leaves emerge after flowering and persist through summer, so plan accordingly for the space it will occupy during the growing season rather than treating it as a spring-only feature.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Araceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A distinctive native wildflower with a mottled purple-and-green spathe that emerges in late winter and generates heat to melt surrounding snow. The plant thrives in wet, shaded woodland areas and produces an unpleasant odor when crushed, hence its common name.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Eastern Skunk Cabbage grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Eastern skunk cabbage is among the earliest native wildflowers to bloom, often flowering while snow still covers the ground, making it useful for extending the flowering season in woodland gardens. Unlike many spring ephemerals, it thrives in consistently wet conditions where many ornamental alternatives struggle, and its distinctive mottled spathe provides visual interest before most other shade plants have leafed out. It also supports early-season pollinators and wildlife when few other food sources are available.
Watch out for
The plant spreads by seed in suitable conditions and can gradually expand its footprint in a wet garden, which may or may not align with your design intent. Its large leaves emerge after flowering and persist through summer, so plan accordingly for the space it will occupy during the growing season rather than treating it as a spring-only feature.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Araceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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