I’ve been trying to propagate skunk cabbage for more than 10 years into the wetland area where I live. While the plant goes dormant in August, one does not have to wait until spring to see evidence of next year’s life. By mid-September a small (about 1-inch) cone of next year’s enfolded leaves pokes out of the earth and remains there through the winter.
There are two distinct plants whose common name is “skunk cabbage”; the first grows in the Chicago area and, as you describe is “Symplocarpus foetidus.” It has no noticeable odor unless one tears a leaf or digs up part of the rhizome.
The second is yellow skunk cabbage, or “Lysichitom americanum,” prevalent in the acid soils of eastern and western North America, which does indeed stink.
Both are very pretty. The reason why the skunk cabbage you describe is not available in the trade is that it is very hard to transplant. I was told that the seed inside the spadix has so little fiber that it “melts” in your pocket before it gets to its new planting site.
It was suggested that I try transplanting it in August after its dormancy had set in because the “heat machine” that enables the plant to emerge so early in the spring uses so much energy it may have little left to withstand the stress of spring transplanting. Last summer I planted a dozen buckets of skunk cabbage in the best locale I could find near our house. (I believe the plant would do better being constantly wet with no dry periods or flooding like it experiences here.)
Eureka! The little cones each emerged after a month or so last summer. They are still buried under fallen leaves, but I am eagerly waiting to see what I have as they push upward.
So please tell your readers that if they have the right spot, Symplocarpus foetidus is very ornamental and does not stink.
I am delighted that my little passion has hit the front pages.
