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Native Plant Database

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Lysichiton americanus (American skunkcabbage)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Lysichiton americanus Hultén & St. John

American skunkcabbage, Yellow-skunk-cabbage, Swamp lantern

Araceae (Arum Family)

USDA Symbol: LYAM3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Yellow-skunk-cabbage is a large, handsome perennial that begins the season with an unusual flower and continues through the summer as a rosette of monstrous, paddle-shaped, tropical-looking, glossy leaves which rise to 3 ft. or more. A spike of minute flowers surrounded by a large, conspicuous yellow or cream bract open on one side; grows on a stout stalk in a cluster of giant, erect, leaves. The flower is a club of greenish-yellow flowerlets surrounded by a large, yellow spathe up to 8 in. long. The flowers eventually become reddish berries.

The common name refers to the skunk-like odor of the sap and the fetid odor of the flowers, which draws flies as pollinators. The peppery sap was once used as a treatment for ringworm. The short, fleshy underground stem is eaten by animals. Baked, it supplemented the winter diets of Indians.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit: Green
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , ID , MT , OR , WA , WY
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: AK to Del Norte & Santa Cruz Cos., CA, less commonly e. to n.w. MT
Native Habitat: Cool swamps & bogs
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
Aquatic: yes
Soil Description: Wet soils.
Conditions Comments: Skunk cabbage grows where many plants would die, thriving in sites with extremely poor drainage and low aeration. Plan for the large gap this plant leaves in winter when it goes dormant. If crushed, the leaves produce a pungent, skunk-like odor.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: The stems and roots of skunk cabbage are eaten by bears and elk.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes

Propagation

Description: Easily propagated by division of the large, underground rhizome. Seeds are said to germinate readily.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: No treatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 928 - 100 easy-to-grow native plants for Canadian gardens (2005) Johnson, L.; A. Leyerle

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lysichiton americanus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lysichiton americanus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lysichiton americanus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-03-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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