Skunk Cabbage
Symplocarpus foetidus
Sue Sweeney.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Araceae
- Genus:
- Symplocarpus
- Species:
- Symplocarpus foetidus
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 4-6 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- feb, mar, apr
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow, Green, Brown
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Cattail Borer Moth (Bellura obliqua), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Azure sp. (Celastrina Tutt), (Pieris rapae), (Pieris rapae), Duskywing sp. (Erynnis Schrank), Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma), Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma), Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, organic, moisture-retentive soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in wetlands and swampy areas
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Notes: Seeds may require light for optimal germination.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o