Flowering this week in the garden is one of our more unusual hardy native aroids, Symplocarpus foetidus, aka: skunk cabbage. Although the floral aroma is barely detectable by humans, it does work well enough to draw in flies for pollination. Since skunk cabbage evolved to flower in the winter, often under snow, it learned to use thermogenesis (floral heat production) to melt the snow above the flower, and allow the insect-attracting scent to be released. For at least two weeks during flowering, a skunk cabbage is able to maintain a steady temperature of 72-79 degrees F. when the outside air temperature is 15 degrees F or higher. The typical native range for these bog denizens is in much colder climates (Maine to Minnesota, and south to NC), so we are on the very southern end of their range.
Hello,
I’ve been trying to get information on where I can see Symplocarpus foetidus growing wild. I live in Raleigh. Are there any stands of Skunk Cabbage that live in our area? Wake County or one of the surrounding counties? So far I haven’t been able to locate anything, although there is a map that shows it does exist in Wake County.
Mary Bean
There used to be two populations in Wake County, NC, but I haven’t seen them in decades and doubt they still exist. One was at the former Tara of North Hills Apartments, and the other was just west of Ridge Road in West Raleigh. I’m linking to an article with a few sites from nearby counties.
Thanks, Tony!
Yes, that was the article with the map showing it existed in Wake. Sounds like I may need to go farther afield, tho. Perhaps Guilford Co… We used to own property in Allegheny Co, but alas don’t anymore so don’t know if I’ll get back there.
I’m very glad you have it in the JLBG Garden. I will like to come and see it. Any plans to sell this one day?
Mary
This is not a plant that multiplies. Unless we could find a source of seed, I doubt we’d ever have any to share.
Come west where the skunk cabbage stinks more. I never realized there was an Eastern skunk cabbage but the one we have in the northwest is almost ornamental if it wasn’t for the smell.
Oh, don’t we wish we could keep the wonderful west coast skunk cabbage alive.