Does it really smell bad?

Yes, the flowers produce a strong, carrion like scent to attract pollinators.

Can I grow this in a normal garden bed?

No, it requires consistently wet or boggy soil to survive.

Plant guide

Skunk cabbage.

Symplocarpus foetidus

Pronounced sim-plo-KAR-pus FOE-tid-us

Also known as Polecatweed, Skunk Cabbage, eastern skunk cabbage, skunk-cabbage

Eastern Skunk Cabbage — Photo by Tom Norton (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This fascinating plant is one of the first to emerge in early spring, often pushing through frozen ground. It gets its name from the pungent, skunk like odor it releases when the leaves are bruised. It thrives in wet, swampy areas where it can keep its roots constantly saturated.

Another photo of Skunk cabbage — Photo by Michael J. Papay (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Difficult
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 1 to 2 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 8
Bloom time: Late winter to early spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently waterlogged to mimic its natural wetland habitat. Watch for wilting, which indicates the soil has dried out too much. It is best suited for outdoor bog gardens rather than indoor containers.

Watering: The soil must remain constantly wet or submerged.
Feeding: Usually does not require supplemental fertilizer in a natural bog environment.
Pruning: Remove dead or decaying foliage in late autumn.
Repotting: Only repot if the plant has completely outgrown its container in a bog setup.
Soil: Mucky, organic, saturated soil
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Temperature: -35 to 25°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for many decades in ideal conditions.
Deer and rabbits: High

Safety

People: All parts of the plant are considered toxic due to calcium oxalate crystals.
Pets: This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals.
Children: Keep children away from the plant as ingestion causes intense burning and swelling of the mouth and throat.
Contact allergens: Handling the leaves can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to calcium oxalate.
Airborne allergens: The plant does not produce significant airborne allergens.
Edibility: The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause severe irritation if ingested raw.

How to identify it

Large, cabbage like basal leaves
Fleshy, mottled purple and green spathe
Strong skunk like odor when crushed
Emerges directly from muddy soil

Height: 0.3 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.9m
Leaves: bright green, deciduous
Flowers: maroon, yellow, green, 5 to 15cm
Fruit: red, brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: No special care is needed as the plant is fully hardy and naturally dormant in winter.
In containers: It is not suitable for standard containers due to its extreme moisture needs and deep root system.

Division

1. Carefully dig around the massive root system in early spring.
2. Use a sharp spade to divide the clump.
3. Replant immediately into a very wet location.

Group this plant with other moisture loving species to create a self sustaining wetland patch.

Grows well with

Marsh Marigold · They share similar requirements for wet, boggy soil conditions.
Sensitive Fern · This fern thrives in the same moist, shaded woodland environments.

Similar species

Western Skunk Cabbage · It is a related species with similar growth habits found in western North America.

Science

Family: Araceae
Genus: Symplocarpus
Order: Alismatales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Eastern North America and parts of East Asia.
Conservation: It is not currently listed as endangered, though it relies on specific wetland habitats.

It thrives in wetlands and swamps where its heat production allows it to emerge before other vegetation.

Value to wildlife: early season nectar source
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: bog garden specimen, native plant garden, educational interest

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 4/9
Temperature: 3/9
Moisture: 9/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it really smell bad?: Yes, the flowers produce a strong, carrion like scent to attract pollinators.
Can I grow this in a normal garden bed?: No, it requires consistently wet or boggy soil to survive.

Where the name comes from

The genus name comes from Greek words for connected fruit, while the species name refers to its fetid odor.

Good to know

The flowers emit a foul odor resembling rotting meat to attract carrion flies and beetles.
It is one of the first plants to bloom in the spring, often pushing through frozen ground.
The leaves can grow up to 60 centimeters long after the flowers fade.
It has a massive, deep root system that makes it very difficult to transplant.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.