Symplocarpus foetidus (Skunk Cabbage)
| Also known as: | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Symplocarpus |
| Family: | Araceae (Arum) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; wet soil; swamps, seeps, along shores, wet woods |
| Bloom season: | March - May |
| Plant height: | 1 to 3 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: OBL MW: OBL NCNE: OBL |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/other/skunk-cabbage_0423_113925.jpg)
Flowers are in a fleshy oval cluster (spadix) 1 to 2 inches long. The spadix is yellowish to purplish. Individual flowers are about ¼ inch across, have 4 pale yellow stamens and 4 inconspicuous tepals (petals). The spadix is enclosed in a leaf-like bract (spathe) 3 to 6 inches long that is curved or twisted at the top and open on one side. The spathe is dark purplish brown mottled with yellowish green, and withers away after the flower has bloomed.
Leaves:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/other/skunk-cabbage_0526_093627.jpg)
A rosette of basal leaves emerges after the flower. Leaves eventually grow up to 2 feet long and 1 foot wide, on ridged leaf stems up to 1 foot long. Leaves are smooth, veiny, toothless, hairless and somewhat heart-shaped, with a blunt or pointed tip. The edges may be a little wavy.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/other/skunk-cabbage_0809_092417.jpg)
The spathe withers away, with the flower head developing into a round to oval compound fruit, 2 to 4 inches long, with a bumpy geometric pattern covering the surface. It is initially dark purplish like the spathe, or greenish, becoming black at maturity. Inside the fruit head are many seeds.
Notes:
Skunk Cabbage is usually the first plant to bloom in the spring, as early as February but more often March. It generates its own heat, melting the snow around it, and gives off a foul stench to attract flies for pollination. Without cover of snow the flowers may go unnoticed amid the brown leaf litter, at least until the leaves start emerging. It tends to form large colonies in favorable habitats. The leaves are a similar size and shape as the large basal leaves of burdock, but Skunk Cabbage leaves are smooth and a little shiny, where burdock are dull green and hairy to varying degrees.Native Plant Nurseries, Restoration and Landscaping Services ↓
Map of native plant resources in the upper midwest
More photos
a colony of plants in bloom
a colony of mature leaves 
more flowers, about 4 inches tall
a colony of plants
early spring bloom, melting the snow
a colony of plants in bloom
a colony of mature leaves 
more flowers, about 4 inches tall
a colony of plants
early spring bloom, melting the snow Photos by K. Chayka taken at Battle Creek Regional Park, St Paul. Photos by Peter M. Dziuk taken in Wabasha County. Photos by Michael Lynch taken at Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2010-04-12 16:09:20
2 wks. ago there were many in bloom in the soggy areas very near the flowing creek.
on: 2011-04-13 16:23:12
Hundreds of skunk cabbage in numerous seeps are emerging and blooming throughout the park. We met you folks last fall in the parking lot at Crosby-Manitou State Park. You have beautiful website.
on: 2011-07-15 11:01:13
you can only see in early or late winter. we found this plant in our peat bog,
on: 2012-03-31 13:29:26
Colonies in bloom near lake off Shepard Rd
on: 2013-04-06 18:30:46
Colonies in bloom in seep/marshy area east of HWY 95 in Wm O'Brien State Park
on: 2014-05-05 20:31:29
On the east side of the creek south of the bridge that crosses the creek under 106th Street
on: 2015-03-21 08:15:18
Thanks to Ron. I found the colony of these on 3/20/15 just where he said they would be south of 106th Street on Nine Mile Creek. They are just starting to bloom. One was in full bloom the others are just starting.
on: 2015-04-13 13:59:13
Saw the Skunk Cabbage patch on the north side of the lake. There were several in varying stages of bloom.
on: 2015-08-17 23:31:17
Can be found in the Eloise Butler wild flower garden in Theodore Wirth in the early spring!
on: 2016-03-27 20:47:37
Plentiful colonies located on the wet bottomlands on the north side of Nine Mile Creek in Wildwood Park. Park your car at the Lyndale Lot of the Minnesota River bottoms, go back under 35W, cross the creek and find the game trails at the bottom of the bluffs. In full bloom on 3/25/2016.
on: 2016-05-16 07:46:13
Found a huge collection of this plant in Harder Park while geocaching. Thankfully...it didn't smell yet! Also got to see a cute little green frog in one of the plants!
on: 2017-04-10 08:50:11
Abundant and widespread population sending up leaves and flowers in an ash lowland forest between Ivy Trail and Sunrise River. Marsh marigold (although not as abundant) was also starting to flower.
on: 2019-03-22 21:47:14
Just starting to bloom at Minnehaha falls in the boardwalk area.
on: 2019-04-29 07:49:43
Wondered what they were. Plentiful all sizes.
on: 2020-04-20 11:36:58
in seeps near Lake Alice. Leaves beginning to emerge 4/17/2020. Flowering spadix with spathe still covering
on: 2021-03-29 09:36:18
Lots blooming already along the lower boardwalk!
on: 2021-04-30 12:35:52
Large areas of skunk cabbage and marsh marigolds in the drainages along Fern Loop Trail and along Big Spring Trail. April 28, 2021.
on: 2022-04-10 11:34:07
Saw and photographed a few next to a small drainage creek along the trail.
on: 2022-04-29 12:36:30
Banning State Park has a Skunk Cabbage Trail and there is an abundance of Skunk Cabbage there. The flowers are most visible in late April. I would like to know if there is any growing in Carlton County.
on: 2022-04-29 12:46:27
Roberta, check the distribution map to see where it's been recorded in the state, though you won't get an exact location.
on: 2022-10-01 10:08:18
In a white cedar swamp east of Cromwell.